THE new MR2 motor racing champion is holding his breath on the chance to race in front of more than 70,000 paying spectators and millions of television viewers.

Tony Gilham has been offered the ride of his life in the Volkswagen Racing Cup but he needs to raise £20,000 in sponsorship to take it up.

Raced over 12 rounds - including a support appearance for the A1 Grand Prix at Brands Hatch in August which will be beamed around the world on Sky television the VW Racing Cup would give Tony huge exposure as he strives to reach his ultimate goal of Formula 1 racing.

The 26-year-old said: "After winning the MR2 championship this would be a massive step up for me.

"I had been offered a car in the Seat Cupra R Championship but the cost was £50,000. The VW Racing Cup is much cheaper and the exposure is much more.

"Last year I was racing in front of maybe 1,000 spectators but in the VW cup. especially alongside the A1 Grand Prix, the coverage is total."

He added: "The prize for winning is not very big but it is not really about the money for me, this is all about exposure."

Tony was approached by a team to drive a car but the driver, based in Swanley, wants to race as a private driver to keep costs down and he approached VW with a view to buying a car himself.

So keen were VW to have Tony in the cup they agreed he could buy a brand new Golf 2.8 V6 car for £20,000, exactly half of what it cost to build.

Now Tony is busy in talks with companies with a view to securing four sponsors, each delivering £5,000.

He said: "I am talking to some people already but nothing has been set in stone regarding figures.

"The rounds give huge exposure to the sponsors as well as the corporate hospitality which goes with it."

Time is of the essence as testing starts within weeks and the cup starts proper in April with the opening two rounds being held at Oulton Park in Cheshire.

The rounds then visit Donnington Park in May, Snetterton in July, Brands Hatch in August, Croft on a date yet to be confirmed and Thruxton in October.

Launched in 2000 the VW Racing Cup is widely regarded as one of the most exciting saloon car championships in the UK.

It is open to any model of racing VW and has attracted drivers of the Beetle RSi, Corrado, Vento and Golf VR6, Golf GTI, R32, Scirocco GTI, Polo, Lupo and Bora.

If you want to get involved with sponsoring Tony, call him on 07771 641732.