First of the Triple Eight Engineering designed and built Vectras, making it's race debut at at the Knockhill round of the 1997 British Touring Car Championship in the hands of John Cleland.

In October 1997 the car was used in the Bathurst 1000 where it was driven by Warwick and Peter Brock. During testing Brock lost control at 160mph and rolled the car doing major damage. After extensive repairs the car was able to qualify 4th, and eventually finished the race some laps down in 6th following a drive-shaft failure.

Updated to 1998 spec it was sold to Opel Sweden along with V97-002 where it was used by Jan Brunstedt in the 1998 and 1999 Swedish Touring Car Championship.

In 2002 and 2003 it was used in the Norwegian Touring Car Championship by privateer driver Per H Skjolden.

In March 2005 both V97-001 and V97-002 were purchased by Alex Schooledge and used at selected round of the Dunlop Motorsports News series and BRSCC LMA Euro Saloon & Sports Car Championship.

The car was rebuilt by Outpace Racing and liveried in '98 Bathurst 1000 colours, and would appear at the 2012 Silverstone Classic being shared by Alex Schooledge and Simon Dickinson.

In early 2013 the car was purchased by John Cleland, with a view to racing at selected HSCC Super Touring Car Trophy events.