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Smith Lands Third Vauxhall Drive

Vauxhall has ended weeks of speculation about its driver line-up by confirming that Gavin Smith will join the title-winning outfit as teammate to former champion Yvan Muller and Briton Colin Turkington

Smith had been hotly tipped for the third race seat after testing for Vauxhall at Magny-Cours in France earlier this week, and is hugely excited about the opportunity he has been given.

"Signing for Vauxhall is the highlight of my career so far," he said. "When you're looking at various options you always aim high, but you can't get much higher than driving for Vauxhall in the BTCC, and I will be giving it my all to challenge for championship points along with Colin and Yvan.

"I had a productive test this week, and have learnt lots about the performance of the car and the team dynamic. I hope to be on the pace right from the start of the season."

Smith, who comes from Dublin in Ireland, competed in the Seat Cupra Championship last year, finishing fifth overall with three wins. He started racing in the Irish Fiat Uno championship in 1998, clinching the title at his first attempt, and made the switch to single-seaters the following year in the Irish Formula Opel series.

After sitting out the 2001 season, he competed in the British Formula Three scholarship class in 2002 before switching to the Seat Cupra Championship in 2003 - scoring one win to finish fourth overall.

The BTCC season kicks off at Donington Park on April 10, with Vauxhall's VX Racing team hoping to continue its domination of the series.

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