Vauxhall wants extra backing for 2002

The marque has yet to confirm its plans for 2002, but after sewing up this year's manufacturers' title with just over half the season gone, it is keen to return next year.

Vauxhall has traditionally promoted its own in-house brands including Masterfit and NetworkQ and this year's Astras of Jason Plato and Yvan Muller have carried little extra backing.

The Egg Sport cars of James Thompson and Phil Bennett have been funded almost entirely by the internet banking company and Vauxhall is thought to want similar outside funding in order to commit to next year's programme. A guaranteed television deal is also thought to be a deciding factor.

"Obviously we want to exploit what we have done this year," said Vauxhall PR director Andrew Andersz. "But if we are to continue it is unlikely to be on the same basis. We may have to do the programme in a different way and Triple Eight [which runs the team] is as aware of that as we are."

Triple Eight's three-year deal to build and run the Vauxhall cars runs out at the end of the season, but speculation that the deal will not be renewed has been denied.

"Triple Eight has done a good job," said Andersz. "And there's logic for staying with them if we return."