MERSEYSIDE car makers Vauxhall and Ford are set for an action packed showdown in a picturesque Cheshire park later this month.

Oulton Park - on May 24 and 25, when the 1998 Auto Trader RAC British Touring Championship comes to the North West after Brands Hatch, Kent, over the weekend of May 16 and 17.

The scene is set as Vauxhall has a factory at Ellesmere Port and Ford a factory at Halewood. Look out, too, for the D.C. Cook team racing a renault Laguna in the championship.

Meanwhile, the new Wirral made Astra, (pictured) available from Lookers, has just made a successful rally debut.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.