Hughes fastest at Snetterton

Once again, the works Triple Eight Vauxhall team stayed away from an official test, which took place on Tuesday, to preserve its engines to avoid any more blow-ups. Strict limitations on motors this year will cost drivers points if they have more than four engine changes in the season.

But Hughes was still pleased with his MG's performance, despite the absence of the series pace-setters Yvan Muller and James Thompson.

"This is the first opportunity the team has had to run both new cars back-to-back on a full test day and it's been a really useful exercise for us," he said. "We've made very good progress and visited a lot of new stuff that we've been scared to try over a race weekend. It's filled us with optimism."

The surprise of the day was former bike hero Arron Slight, who was second quickest in his Barwell-run Vauxhall. An oil leak in the wet morning session limited his running, but the New Zealander flew in the dry later on.

The Hondas of Andy Priaulx and Alan Morrison were an encouraging third and fourth, while Mark Fullalove was the fastest Production Class driver in his Peugeot 306.

Warren Hughes MG ZS 1m12.561s
Aaron Slight Vauxhall Astra Coupe 1m12.597s
Andy Priaulx Honda Civic Type-R 1m12.598s
Alan Morrison Honda Civic Type-R 1m12.670s
Anthony Reid MG ZS 1m12.796s
Paul O'Neill Vauxhall Astra Coupe 1m12.898s
David Leslie Proton Impian 1m13.004s
Colin Turkington MG ZS 1m13.055s
Gareth Howell MG ZS 1m13.143s
Tim Harvey Peugeot 406 Coupe 1m13.489s