Vauxhall Astra Championship Winner Back on the grid!!!

[shery1992]

So Vauxhall Astra Championship Winner on the grid for 2009 through martin johnson :)
wonder how competitive that would be.

[aylesburyape]

My guess would be not at all. Not sure about the red squiggly line livery either.

having said that, I wish him all the best and hope he has a good year.

[VkmSpouge]

The livery is the traditonal one for Boulevard. I don't think Martin Johnson will be very competitive but hopefully he'll be able to battle with John George and Martyn Bell.

[bigred]

look closely at the picture and ull see its an opel badge on the front, so i wonder what the history of this chasis is, unlikey to be the ex vxr machinery

[VkmSpouge]

I think the car is the Astra coupé is the ex-Muller 2004 one that Erkut Kizilirmak bought from VXR to race in the Turkish touring car championship. Of course in Turkey the cars are Opels so I think it was rebranded from a Vauxhall. Kizilirmak tried to run at Brands Hatch last year but the engine blew up.

[shery1992]

my bet then would be Swedish Touring Car

[Eunos]

Ah yes The Hot Dog as we referred it to.

Yes it is the Same Car Erkut tried to use at the Brands Finale Last year, Yvan Muller's 2003 Title Winning car i believe.

I don't expect him to be up there with VXR and RAC etc, But it's another Entry so just be greatful with what you got ;p

[Reidy_fan]

I like it as that livery is just a wee bit different and methinks that martin got the car for a song (last time i saw a astra coupe advertised it was only 20k) so instead of buying a clio and going through 3 shells he has gone for BTCC.

Good luck to martin and the lads, what would be nice would be to see a 2nd boulevard car in the hands of paul rivett

[simon1220]

look closely at the picture and ull see its an opel badge on the front, so i wonder what the history of this chasis is, unlikey to be the ex vxr machinery

As i think was said above, i think its the infamous car Erkut drove last year, which blew up within a lap. Hopefully though, Boulevard have sorted its reliability since then :D It managed more than a lap today though which is good!! The livery is there trademark, its good and i hope he can do well . . but not sure he will :(

[SpeedRacer]

TBH I dont think Erkut was selling his Coupe. He was getting the engine rebuilt last I heard. And thats the car that got him into Touring Car racing and he plans to return so I doubt he would sell it. My idea is it may well be one of the Encke Sports cars. They have been very quite and im guessing like many there plans have fallen through so they could have gotten rid of the cars.

[SeatDartford]

Looking at the news items surrounding the Astra on various motorsport websites it says it is the ex Eirkut Astra obviously changed back to a Vauxhall (ie badge changes)

[simon1220]

Looking at the news items surrounding the Astra on various motorsport websites it says it is the ex Eirkut Astra obviously changed back to a Vauxhall (ie badge changes)

Johnson's is badged up as an Opel!

[Marc W]

It is Erkut's old car, and as Simon says it still hasd the Opel badge on from when he used it in turkey. It is also ex VXR as are all the Astra Coupe's. There were no BTC Astra Coupe's made by anyone else.

[Brooklands78]

It is Erkut's old car, and as Simon says it still hasd the Opel badge on from when he used it in turkey. It is also ex VXR as are all the Astra Coupe's. There were no BTC Astra Coupe's made by anyone else.
Absolutely correct - it is 100% definitely Erkut's old car, which had an Opel badge when it briefly appeared at Brands at the end of last season. Boulevard have had the engine reconditioned since Erkut's excursion!