James gets first BTCC run

Driver Chris James, who is graduating to the BTCC from the Mini Challenge, was delayed in his attempts to take the team's Chevrolet Lacetti on-track due to thick fog during the morning, but managed to complete a handful of laps later in the day.

"It was a tricky start to the day," said James. "But as the track dried off in the afternoon, I was more comfortable with the car and could settle in to the task ahead. The car was impressive too. There's just so much power."

James managed to avoid a sizeable accident toward the end of his afternoon's running, the series rookie damaging a splitter on his car after running onto the grass.

"I thought I'd drive just one more lap, but I got a little too close to the edge of the track and put a wheel on to the grass, the next thing I knew I was sliding sideways. Luckily the only damage done was a broken splitter. It could have been a lot worse."

ES will next take to the track for the BTCC's official pre-season test at Silverstone on March 24.