WITH the 2009 British Touring Car Champion-ship (BTCC) season almost upon us, Vauxhall has just launched two stunning limited editions.

They are based on the Corsa and Astra VXR to celebrate VX Racing’s success in the 2008 championship.

Known as the Corsa and Astra VX Racing Editions, they will have a combined production run of 888 cars. And that number just happens to coincide with the name of Vauxhall’s race experts, Triple Eight Engineering, who build and prepare all the VX Racing Cars and contributed so much to Vauxhall’s triumph in the BTCC last season when it won the BTCC’s Drivers’, Manufac-turers’ and Team champion-ships.

As well as sharing the VX Racing team colours of red and black, all VX Racing Editions gain full leather Recaro seats as standard. The VX Racing theme continues outside the car with logos on the door pillars and tread plates too.

And just to make sure that you’d never mistake a VX Racing Edition from an ‘ordinary’ Corsa or Astra VXR, tinted rear glass, a black rear diffuser and black side bump strips and door mirror covers are all part of the package. In addition, the Astra version gains Piano Black interior décor strips.

There are gloss black alloy wheels – 18in for Corsa, 19in for Astra – that come as standard.

Finally, for that authentic VX Racing soundtrack – as well as up to 20PS extra power – all VX Racing Edition buyers will have the option of purchasing a Remus exhaust system at a cut price.

For Astras, that means £720 (saving £275) and for Corsas, £410 (saving £150). Buyers will also benefit from a healthy discount on other Vauxhall performance parts and accessories.

Corsa and Astra VX Racing Editions are available to order now through all Vauxhall retailers at £17,425 and £21,445 respectively.