Barwell signs Slight to second Astra.
BTCC Touring Class graduate Barwell Motorsport has secured the services of ex-World Superbike star and 2001 Peugeot BTCC driver, Aaron Slight, to fill its remaining Vauxhall Astra seat for 2002.
Slight joins the youngest-ever BTCC driver, Tom Chilton, in the Surrey-based outfit's exciting driver line-up, having initially been expected to renew his superbike ties in the United States or even join reigning BTCC champion Jason Plato in Britain's ASCAR series.
BTCC Touring Class graduate Barwell Motorsport has secured the services of ex-World Superbike star and 2001 Peugeot BTCC driver, Aaron Slight, to fill its remaining Vauxhall Astra seat for 2002.
Slight joins the youngest-ever BTCC driver, Tom Chilton, in the Surrey-based outfit's exciting driver line-up, having initially been expected to renew his superbike ties in the United States or even join reigning BTCC champion Jason Plato in Britain's ASCAR series.
Barwell directors Mark Lemmer and Chris Needell agreed the deal early last week with Slight's manager, Tubbs Wanigasekera, pending the Kiwi's arrival in the UK from New Zealand. The 13-time WSBK race winner then sampled the team's Vauxhall Astra for the first time at Snetterton on Saturday.
"I was starting to look at other competitive motorsport programs such as ASCAR; assuming all the top competitive seats in the BTCC had gone! That's until I got the text message in New Zealand from Tubbs in the UK," Slight admitted.
"I was excited by the opportunity to be able to be in a Vauxhall Astra, which is the car to beat in the series, and also to be associated with a sponsor such as Kaliber, which has been in the BTCC for years. I am rapt!"
Slight's impact on four wheels both during and since his time in the WSBK convinced Barwell to sign him for 2002 as much as the 'novelty' value of having such a big name join the line-up.
"Aaron's signing is fantastic news for both Barwell Motorsport and the BTCC," Mark Lemmer acknowledged, "He's clearly very talented on four wheels, and just like the whole of our team and young Tom Chilton, Aaron is massively hungry for success.
"This should be an incredibly exciting year for us, and confirming Kaliber's continued support of Barwell and the BTCC has enabled us to complete the deal with Aaron, together with the help of our other team sponsors Bluesure, Adic, La Manga Club, Barwell Leisure, Concord Rent-A-Car, Ideal Hardware & West End Vauxhall."
The 2002 BTCC series kicks off on Easter Monday 1 April at Brands Hatch.
