Neal fires Thruxton test salvo

The Team Dynamics Honda driver lapped just over a tenth of a second faster than 2002 champion James Thompson, with Thommo's Vauxhall team-mate Yvan Muller third best, 0.2s off Neal's time.

"I'm very pleased to be at the right end," said Neal, "but not naïve enough to think that they won't come at us. The jury's still out a bit. I was just waiting for everyone to put in their quick laps."

Tom Chilton in the official factory team Honda was fourth quickest with Anthony Reid - like Neal an independent this year - fifth best in the WSR MG ZS.

The FIA Super 2000 (ETCC-spec) SEAT Toledos of Jason Plato and Rob Huff were 13th and 14th fastest, but neither completed many laps and you can expect more pace at the weekend when the cars are better sorted and series officials decide on how to equalise the performance of cars built to BTCC and Super 2000 rules. The smart money says that SEAT and co will be allowed to run rather lighter than the BTCC cars can.


Matt Neal, Honda Civic, 1m17.477s
James Thompson, Vauxhall Astra, 1m17.599s
Yvan Muller, Vauxhall Astra, 1m17.677s
Tom Chilton, Honda Civic, 1m17.806s
Anthony Reid, MG ZS, 1m17.971s
Colin Turkington, MG ZS, 1m18.533s
Michael Bentwood, Vauxhall Astra, 1m18.607s
Luke Hines, Vauxhall Astra, 1m18.633s
Robert Collard, Vauxhall Astra, 1m18.846s
James Kaye, Honda Civic, 1m18.870s