Onslow-Cole wins his first champagne moment

Tom Onslow-Cole has underlined his credentials as a serious challenger for the British Touring Car Championship title – by winning the latest HiQ champagne moment award.

The Team Aon star sped away with a win from the recent round of racing at Oulton Park, and can now add a bottle of HiQ bubbly to his trophy cabinet.

It is the first time Tom has won the accolade, after narrowly missing out on several occasions in 2008.

Tom has thanked the BTCC fans for their support, and hopes to keep up the momentum at Croft this weekend, when he will hope to make further ground on the championship leaders.

He said: “I enjoyed a successful weekend at Oulton Park and it is great to win the HiQ champagne moment to give me something to remember the weekend by.

“It is great to be back in the series. I have learnt a lot in the Ford Focus and I feel that I’m growing as a driver all the time. I’m gaining momentum at the right time and feel in great shape ahead of Croft.

“The car is as good as anything I have driven and it is wonderful to win this award, on behalf of everyone at Team Aon who do so much behind the scenes.”

Tom polled 37 per cent of votes, beating Jason Plato into second place (29 per cent) with James Nash third (9 per cent).

Susan Cook, of West Bridgford, was picked at random to present Tom with his bottle of champagne and will also win a bottle for himself, as well as a grid walk and a pair of complimentary weekend race passes.

HiQ’s marketing manager Geraldine McGovern said: “It is great to see Tom performing so well, and challenging at the top end of the standings.

“He is fully deserving of our champagne moment award, and our only surprise is that he hasn’t won one earlier. Well done!”

WHO WILL WIN HIQ'S FINAL CHAMPAGNE MOMENT?

As the dust settles on an enthralling British Touring Car Championship season, just one question remains…Who will win HiQ’s final champagne moment?

HiQ is throwing the voting out to the fans once again, to conclude a stunning year of racing which saw Colin Turkington crowned as champion.

So will the talented Northern Ireland star win his first HiQ Champagne Moment for his nerveless display at Brands Hatch?

Or will Jason Plato’s hat-trick of wins crown him with the award for the second time this season?

And there is also another strong contender in the shape of Tom Chilton, who ended his season in style with Team Aon with a pole position and two podium finishes.

All spectators are invited to log onto HiQ’s official website, http://www.hiqonline.co.uk/ to vote for their star performer.

The man that receives the most plaudits from the round of racing will be crowned with HiQ’s Champagne Moment award and presented with a bottle of bubbly before the first race of the 2010 season.

HiQ’s marketing manager Geraldine McGovern said: “What a season! Brands Hatch was a phenomenal success on so many levels. With more than 30,000 fans cheering on the drivers, it will be great to see who they vote for in our final champagne moment of 2009.”

HiQ MAKES HARRY HAPPY WITH CHAMPAGNE MOMENT

Hundreds of British Touring Car Championship fans have given Harry Vaulkhard a big reason to be cheerful after voting him the winner of HiQ’s first champagne moment of 2009.

The Chevrolet Lacetti star received the most votes for his impressive all round display at Donnington Park, when he qualified in second place, and went on to secure 5th spot and 7th place in races one and three.

Harry received 40 per cent of the votes, narrowly beating Rob Collard (36 per cent) and James Thompson (21 per cent).

He will receive his bottle of bubbly from BTCC fan Kerry Earl, who was picked at random to present the prize. She will also receive a pair of tickets to a future race in the season.

She said: “I voted for Harry because to put his car 2nd on the grid and hold his own throughout all three races was an impressive achievement.

“When you consider how well he performed when battling with Jason Plato and Mat Jackson, you realize what a great effort it was.”

Harry was suitably pleased with his award and said he was enjoying regular tussles further up the grid this season.

“It is exciting times for me and the team. Everyone is working extremely hard and this HiQ champagne moment award is am lovely reminder of the results we achieved at Donington.

“We want to do better at Oulton and we hope that the bottle of bubbly will be a good omen for me and the team.”

HiQ is hoping that the popularity in its champagne moment accolades will continue after Oulton Park on Sunday.

For more information about HiQ’s Champagne Moment log onto www.hiqonline.co.uk

Ends

For more information please contact Ben Smallman on 01902 714957 or email ben@connect-group.com

CHAMPAGNE MOMENTS ARE BACK!!

They are bubbly, they are full of fizz, and they are back!

After a phenomenal uptake to HiQ’s champagne moment awards in 2008, the sponsors of the British Touring Car Championship are proud to bring back the bubbly for the rest of the 2009 season – starting at Donington Park on May 17.

Following each race weekend last year, thousands of spectators logged onto HiQ’s official website, http://www.hiqonline.co.uk/ to vote for their star performer from the weekend’s action.

And now they will get the chance to do the same again, once the action has concluded at Donington Park.