Vauxhall plans new Astra

Despite the series' decision to allow cars built to the FIA's Super 2000 (ETCC) rules this year, Vauxhall's new contender will be constructed to the BTCC's own regulations which run until at least the end of 2006.

Vauxhall will not decide finally which car to build until the end of August, but its motorsport promotions boss Stuart Harris says the odds are on the Astra. "Triple Eight [Vauxhall's BTCC team] are evaluating the cars now," he said. "but I would say that it's at least 60 percent certain we will run the new Astra."

Last winter the team built a Vectra to evaluate, but the current Astra - which has been the dominant force in the BTCC since the current rules were introduced for the 2001 season - was retained for the 2004 season.

"We're still looking at running the Vectra with a turbo-diesel powerplant," said Harris," but the Vectra is really too big."

On the decision to stick with BTCC rules over Super 2000, Harris said: "I'm staggered at just how expensive the ETCC cars are, but the rules seem to be coming together and hopefully in 2006 there will be a common formula."

He also confirmed that Vauxhall will continue to run a three-car team and that it would like to retain its star drivers James Thompson and Yvan Muller.