2002 Vauxhall Astra '888 Edition' Turbo Coupe

• Build #57 of 100 ever made, released to celebrate Vauxhall’s 2001 BTCC success
• Developed by Triple Eight Race Engineering, Vauxhall’s works team in partnership with leading automotive performance specialists
• Building on the impressive Turbo Edition, the ‘888 Edition’ has a host of individual features including race-proven chassis modifications, Milltek stainless steel exhaust, VXR front brakes, O.Z. Racing alloy wheels, Eibach springs and dampers, ETC-Plus traction control and a ‘Quickshift’ reduced-travel gear lever
• Slam-panel signed by former Tripe Eight racing driver Matt Neal
• All examples were in Europa Blue pearlescent' paintwork; just 62,000 miles and in superb mechanical and cosmetic condition

Founded in 1996, Triple Eight Racing has played a major part of the British Motor Racing scene winning over 130 races in various championships and is probably best known for securing both Driver’s and Manufacturer’s titles in the British Touring Car Championship.

The driver line-up for its début BTCC year was Derek Warwick and John Cleland in the legendary Vectra and their crowd-pleasing antics still regularly appear on YouTube clips. However, in 2001 the Vectra was replaced by the Astra Coupé and in 2002 the Astra became the car to beat in the BTCC with drivers Yvan Muller and James Thompson alongside Matt Neal in the sister “egg-sport” car. Thompson eventually won the championship with Muller and Neal enjoying successes and the Astra became one, if not the, most successful car in BTCC history.

Dovetailing neatly with their other motorsport projects, Triple Eight has developed a range of performance road cars including Vauxhall’s fastest ever selling vehicle, the Astra, an achievement which the manufacturer celebrated by commissioning 100 bespoke ‘Triple Eight’ Astra T8 Coupés.

A range of modifications were made to the interior, exterior bodywork and chassis of the standard Astra Coupé T8 Turbo (on which the 888 is based). The engine, however, is unchanged – which means 192 PS at 5400 rpm and 250Nm of torque between 1950-5300 rpm from the smooth, 2.0-litre, 16v turbo unit.

To focus the already sharp handling, the Astra 888 Coupe was lowered and sat on Eibach springs and dampers. Seventeen-inch ‘OZ Racing’ alloy wheels were fitted, shod with 235/40 Michelin Pilot Sport tyres compared to the standard cars 215 width tyres and the brakes featured an uprated Ferodo pad material, giving improved pedal feel.

The Vauxhall Astra 888 Turbo’s standard interior was also given quite a makeover, including Sparco front sports seats finished in blue & black Alcantara. The same blue Alcantara is also used on the handbrake gaiter and gear change gaiter, while the alloy handbrake lever and alloy gear knob are unique 888 designs. The revised steering wheel trim is finished in blue Alcantara and black leather and the pedals feature 888 alloy extensions with the addition of a unique 888 alloy footrest. Finally, the centre console which houses the multi-function driver information display, ventilation controls and the audio system (CCR 600 stereo radio/cassette Player + four-disc CD autochanger in glovebox) is colour coded to match the Europa Blue exterior.

On the outside, the car wears a unique 888 body-kit, comprising a front bumper splitter, rear wing, side skirts and wheel arch extensions to mirror those used on the BTCC race car. All Astra Coupe 888s were finished in Europa Blue ‘pearlescent’ paint.

With proper enhancement to its driving abilities and a gutsy 187bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, this is a real ‘touring car for the road’. Writing about the car, and its 0-60mph time of 7.0 seconds, ‘Auto Express’ magazine stated: “With minimal turbo lag and the rasp of a sports exhaust behind you it feels even faster, though, and the punchy short-shift gearbox makes light work of building speed. The steering has been tightened, while uprated springs and dampers combine with the tarmac-scraping ride height to pin the 888 flat and balance it perfectly through the corners.”

The car presented here is #57 of 100 ‘888 Edition’ examples produced, supplied new by Slaters of Colwyn Bay, and has always been owned by proper enthusiasts, formerly wearing registration number ‘P888 VXL’ for almost 13 years. It has covered just 62,000 miles (in 19 years) from new, comes with a full service history, all previous MOT Certificates, lots of paperwork, receipts and bills, and is described by our vendor as in "showroom condition".

A fantastic opportunity to acquire a piece of Vauxhall motorsport history, and with so few examples produced, these cars are now a rare sight and have all the right ingredients to be a future modern-classic.