Hughes tops first major test

Hughes lapped his works-entered MG ZS around the Indy circuit in 49.219s, over a tenth of a second clear of new Honda recruit Matt Neal. Colin Turkington backed up Hughes' time in the second MG, ahead of the first Vauxhall Astra, the privately-entered GA Motorsport machine of talented Scot Gavin Pyper.

"We haven't gone for outright times today, and in particular we're still learning about the new Dunlop tyres, but it's nice to be able to pretty much match last year's pole time here," said Hughes. "We've always been strong at Brands, we won both rounds here last August, so to come back from Mondello Park [the opening round] with plenty of points could play nicely into our hands. I think with the work we've done it's probably fair to say I'm cautiously optimistic for the season ahead."

Last year's champion James Thompson was only eighth fastest for the works Vauxhall team, with colleagues Yvan Muller and Paul O'Neill fifth and sixth respectively.


1 Warren Hughes works MG ZS 49.219s 47
2 Matt Neal works Honda Civic 49.343s 56
3 Colin Turkington works MG ZS 49.460s 28
4 Gavin Pyper GA Vauxhall Astra 49.519s 33
5 Yvan Muller works Vauxhall Astra 49.574s 74
6 Paul O'Neill works Vauxhall Astra 49.608s 76
7 Anthony Reid works MG ZS 49.616s 72
8 James Thompson works Vauxhall Astra 49.625s 83
9 Tom Chilton works Honda Civic 49.649s 69
10 Phil Bennett works Proton Impian 49.813s 50