THIS is the first glimpse of the stunning Chevrolet Lancettis which will be run by the North East’s first ever British Touring Car squad. Burning Rubber was last week given a sneak-preview of the blue machines which Robertshaw Racing will field in the 2008 title chase. The cars – which were the factory entries in the 2006 World Touring Car Championship – will remain the same colour in a bid to retain their classic look, but will naturally carry Robertshaw Racing livery on top. The one on the left is the machine of Geordie race-ace Harry Vaulkhard, who is due to take it out for it’s first two tests at Donington and Snetterton later this week. However, there is still no news on who will race the second of the two former WTCC machines, although team owner Gary Robertshaw confirmed the team will definitely run as a two-driver outfit. “We’ve not had any shortage of interest, and we’ve spoken to a fair few drivers, some of them being very high profile,” he said. “There is a possibility of quite a big name joining us, but it’s a long way from finalised at the moment. “But we are most certainly running another driver in the second car. Hopefully we will be in a position to make an announcement in the next couple of weeks”. Burning Rubber caught up with Gary and team manager Joe Bradley last week, as the team enter the final few months before their big 2008 season – the first full one as an all-singing-all-dancing touring car team – roars into action. As well as racing their own two Lancettis, the team will continue to run Newcastle businessman Alan Taylor in his own Honda Integra Type R – a former Team Halfords machine which still has tell-tale signs of orange paint under its white livery – a couple of Clios in the Clio Cup and will continue to field Minis in a different series. And although he’s well aware that it’s going to be a hectic year, Joe admits he’s raring to go. “It’s pretty chaos at the moment, moving up to Touring Cars is a major thing, so the amount of work it brings is phenomenal. “It’s little things like trying to secure a hotel deal for all of our mechanics – we’re going to need around 20 of them on race weekends because of the sheer amount of cars we’re running. “And obviously we’re well aware that time is ticking by. The start of the season may still be a few months off, but it’s always got a habit of sneaking up on you and catching you off-guard, and with the move into BTCC, that’s not something we can afford to happen.” | 
