Motoring News Issue 3 February 2014 | Page 9

Motoring News e EXTREME’s timing couldn’t be better, either, since 2014 marks ten years since the VXR brand was launched in 2004. e Astra VXR is now the best-sell‐ ing VXR and the UK remains the largest market in Eu‐ rope for Vauxhall and Opel’s highest powered models. More information about the Astra VXR EXTREME will follow next month. UNIQUE MASERATI RACE FOR DONINGTON HISTORIC FESTIVAL To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Maserati, Motor Racing Legends (MRL) and the Maserati Club UK are staging a historic Maserati race at this year’s Donington Historic Festival (May 3rd, 4th, 5th). Running as a double header over two of the Festival’s three days, the Maserati Centenary Trophy is for all types of Maseratis and OSCAs built before 1966. is means that the race will be open to all pre-’66 singleseaters and sports cars, including all pre-War cars and cars powered by Maserati or OSCA engines. 9 e Italian marque’s history in motorsport goes back to 1926 - 12 years aer its foundation in 1914 - when Al‐ fieri Maserati took his Tipo 26 to class victory in that year's Targa Florio. is would be followed in 1927 by Maserati winning the Italian constructors' title and Al‐ fieri’s brother Ernesto taking the Italian drivers' title. In the subsequent decades, Maserati would drive into the motorsport history books with a series of iconic models and success in Grand Prix and sportscar racing, two Indy 500 wins and victory in the 1957 Formula One World Drivers’ Championship for Fangio in the 250F.