In October of last year, nine journalists and three Opel/Vauxhall specialists took turns driving two Astra CDTI hatchbacks at 201 km/h for 24 hours straight in an attempt to set and break 18 UK and World Speed Endurance Records. When we first reported on the record attempts, the Opel/Vauxhall team was awaiting confirmation from the FIA that they had indeed broken the records. After a few months of anxious waiting, the motorsport governing bodies confirmed their attempts had been successful.
“We’re over the moon with today’s news,” said Volker Strycek, Opel Director Performance Cars and Motorsport and captain of the team of world record drivers. “This was an important test for the Astra, and it proved that a car with the qualities that most motorists are after, exceptional reliability, a good performance/economy blend and long-distance comfort – can be found at their nearest Opel showroom.”
Opel attempted two sets of records at the Millbrook Proving Grounds in Bedfordshire, UK, 12 in the FIA’s 1600-2000cc forced induction diesel production car class and an additional 6 in the Motorsports Association’s 1500-2000cc forced-induction diesel production car class. All 18 records were broken, including the long standing UK 24 hour average speed record, which was smashed by 25 mph.
A trophy was presented to yesterday to Opel/Vauxhall by the MSA’s chairman, Alan Glow, on the opening day of the Autosport International racing car show in Birmingham, UK.
Comments
Good job journalists for going through all that. Now let’s see a 100,000 miles @ 100 MPH test to see what the cars are made of.
As one of the journalist drivers, it’s a record I’m proud to hold. The car performed like a dream; so much so, I’m certainly up for a 100,000 mile challenge…