Honda tops 'Norwichring' night race testing

Honda Accord racer Kristensen, who turned 33 today, will have to watch his mirrors tonight though - when the drivers take to the track for after-dark practice - as the top seven cars were separated by less than half a second.

Championship leader Alain Menu was just one tenth of a second behind the Dane's time in his Ford Mondeo, while Vauxhall's Yvan Muller was only another tenth of a second further back in third.

Said Kristensen: "I'm happy being quickest at the moment, but they haven't turned the lights off yet! And it's very close, Menu is very quick and he's carrying ballast. I think here you have to have two different set-ups, one for qualifying and one for the race. I am happy with set-up for one lap and that will be good for qualifying, we now have to work on getting the car right for the races.

"It was a nice present to give myself. We have to go out again tonight to get used to the dark and for a racing driver that is the best way to celebrate a birthday - being behind the wheel all day!"

Matt Neal, in his Team Dynamics Max Power Racing Nissan Primera, was fastest Michelin Cup for Independents runner, while Alan Morrison topped the Class B times in his Touring Car VIP Club Peugeot 306.

TOP TEN TESTING TIMES FROM SNETTERTON
1 Tom Kristensen (Den) Redstone Team Honda Honda Accord 1:08.146s
2 Alain Menu (Swi) Ford Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Zetec 1:08.250s
3 Yvan Muller (Fra) Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra 1:08.428s
4 Anthony Reid (GB) Ford Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Zetec 1:08.440s
5 Jason Plato (GB) Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra 1:08.465s
6 Rickard Rydell (Swe) Ford Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Zetec 1:08.571s
7 Matt Neal (GB)* Team Dynamics Nissan Primera GT 1:08.617s
8 Vincent Radermecker (Bel) Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra 1:08.883s
9 Gabriele Tarquini (Ita) Redstone Team Honda Honda Accord 1:09.085s
10 Alan Morrison (GB)** Touring Car VIP Club Peugeot 306 GTi 1:15.715s

* = Michelin Cup for Independents ** = Class B