After a rookie season with Team RAC, Tom Onslow-Cole will step into a works seat for the 50th anniversary season of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship after signing up as the third driver for the defending champions VX Racing.

Crash.net Radio caught up with Tom shortly after his deal was confirmed to get his thoughts on the coming season.

Crash.net Radio:
Tom, it's a nice move for you to make. How pleased are you with the switch?

Tom Onslow-Cole:
It's an awesome move for me to get in with Vauxhall this early in my career. To get a full works drive as well is fantastic. I've known since just before Christmas now and it still hasn't really sunk in.

Crash.net Radio:
So it was a nice early Christmas present then?

Oh yeah for sure, I didn't need any presents on Christmas day! I was just buzzing from that and I am really excited about starting testing and getting behind the wheel of the car.

Crash.net Radio:
Tell us a little bit, if you can, about how the deal has come about.

Tom Onslow-Cole:
Negotiations have been going on for a while. We started talking during the season and when things fell down with the RAC, we had this ongoing relationship with Vauxhall and its all fallen together very nicely.

Crash.net Radio:
In your first season you took a win at Snetterton and a few other podium finishes so you would have been in demand as a driver for 2008. What was it about Vauxhall that attracted you to them?

Tom Onslow-Cole:
For me, there isn't a better place to be, with two team-mates who have won three championships between them. But also, the team have won the BTCC title over and over again so the experience is immense. For someone like me in the early stages of my career, it is an unbelievable opportunity to work with the best.

Crash.net Radio:
You mentioned learning from two champions there, but does that bring added pressure as well – that you have two of the top drivers alongside you and people will always compare you to them?

Tom Onslow-Cole:
Yeah I think it does, but the way I look at it, it will put the pressure on them. They have both won the title while I am the new guy coming in. So if I am hot on their heels then they are in trouble!

Crash.net Radio:
When do you expect to get your first taste of the car?

Tom Onslow-Cole:
At the end of the month we have a five day test planned so it is a good chance for me to get used to the car. It's more pre-season testing than I'll have ever done before so I'm looking forward to that.

Crash.net Radio: