Would Vauxhall and Opel ever race against each other?

[McKay]

Just say vauxhall entered the ETCC could Opel? I know they are sister companies, but this doesn't stop Citeron and Peugeot in the WRC

[mark]

Originally posted by McKay
Just say vauxhall entered the ETCC could Opel? I know they are sister companies, but this doesn't stop Citeron and Peugeot in the WRC
No, Vaux and Opel wouldn't race against each other in the ETCC. Vauxhall are British based therefore only used/known in Britain. Their cars are almost identical except for special editions, therefore their wouldn't be any point. Citroen and Peugeot are connected, but their cars are different (atleast on the outside)

If however, there was a Internation Race i.e mix of touring car championship e.g like Bathhurst then yes, theres a chance they would race against each other if they were in the same class.

If Ford, Volks, Volvo etc won't race against each other cus of being part of Ford, can't imagine Vaux and Opel doing it.

[McKay]

I was speaking hyperthetically.

[John]

Well they did race together (along with Holden) at Bathurst a few years back.

I think theres some rule where Opel and Vauxhall name is interchangeable - meaning Rustad could rebadge his Astra as an Opel in Sweden (but Im not 100% on that).

[Alan]

Hypothetically or not, the answer, as far as the company is concerned would almost certainly be no.

They are after all the same cars, sold as Vauxhall in the UK and Opel almost everywhere else. Both are part of GM, but I guess we could see other GM brands racing in the BTCC as they would be different models. However is would still think this unlikely.

Citroen and Peugeot is a slightly different issue, as they are different model ranges (although of course use the same floor pans in some cases).

I seem to remember at Mondello last year the trade stand was Opel, but one of the cars on the stand was actually a Vauxhall (but I cannot remember which one).

Ford of course have taken this further and I think we would be unlikely to see Ford and Volvo for example racing each other in the BTCC - which is a pity really. But you never know!

[McKay]

They would have to be indie entrants for that. (Ford and Volvo AND Opel and Vauxhall)

[Alan]

Quite true!:)

Just thought that Audi and Bentley is another example of the same company (effectively) entering a race (Le Mans in this instance of course).

It is difficult to know who is owned by who these days.:confused:

[McKay]

i think Proton have connections with Lotus

[John]

Heard somewhere how many manufacturers there are in reality - ie classing Ford, Volvo, Land Rover, Aston etc as 1 and so on.

It was a surprisingly low number (but cant remember what or where I heard it now! :confused:

[Stuart]

Just as an aside, when the DTM came to Britain in 95 (or it may have been 96) Opel rebadged their Calibras as Vauxhalls.
Not sure what happened for the Touring Car World Cup events of 93 and 94 though...

[MGmad]

Just a quick note to say that this is a corporate world people. We now must live by the ways of corporations. We can do nothing about the over abundance of ownerships in the motor industry. We just have to accept it.

But the thing is, Mazda may now be owned by Ford, and BMW may now own Jaguar, but that hasn't changed either company, so their is nothing TO have to accept. So who cares if Ford owns Nissan who owns Lotus who owns Alfa who owns Ford.

None more so in motorsport. Especally the BTCC. Manufacturers run under their own banner. being a 'sister' company has no bearing on the 'other' manufacturers motorsport operations. So Opel can run against vauxhall without any of the two being affected financially or any other way.

[runnyhunny]

Originally posted by MGmad
BMW may now own Jaguar

Incorrect. Ford own Jaguar.

And you are also incorrect about these brand acquisitions not affecting motorsport. Motorsport certainly does suffer!

As Renault own Nissan, you won't see *both* of those teams in the BTCC again.

As Ford own Mazda and Volvo, you won't see any of them in the BTCC again (at the same time).

As GM own Vauxhall and GM-Daewoo, you won't see both of those in the BTCC.

From a manufacturer's point of view, it's a waste of money to fight against yourself!

[bramble]

It's a shame as that would make one great grid.

As for companies not changing when they are taken over, that isn't very accurate.
The cars may look different but underneeth they're all the same.Take VW for example. Just about everything apart from the body panels from the Golf appear in the Audi TT and Skoda whatchamecallit.
And the Jaguar x-Type is basically a Mondeo.