Practice: Muller on top

Muller, who was only fourth fastest in the opening session, lapped the high-speed venue in 1m16.898s - the only man to lap under the 1m17s bracket. The 110.35mph lap was the fastest ever by a latest generation BTCC machine.

"It was a perfect lap, but even I was surprised when I saw the time," said Muller, who had earlier been forced to pit to change a punctured tyre.

The privateer WSR MG squad has taken the fight to the dominant Vauxhalls, however, with Anthony Reid setting the pace in the opening session, while Colin Turkington set the second quickest time overall, albeit 0.6secs slower than Muller's best. Reid ended practice fourth fastest.

Matt Neal was the best of the Hondas in his Team Dynamics Civic in third, with former champion James Thompson fifth fastest in his Vauxhall, ahead of new team-mate Luke Hines, Michael Bentwood (Vauxhall), Tom Chilton (Honda) and Shaun Watson-Smith (Proton).

Jason Plato was the leading ETCC-spec car, but could only manage the 10th fastest time in his SEAT.


1 Yvan Muller, Vauxhall Astra Coupe, 1m16.898s
2 Colin Turkington, MG ZS, 1m17.498s
3 Matt Neal, Honda Civic Type-R, 1m17.656s
4 Anthony Reid, MG ZS, 1m17.705s
5 James Thompson, Vauxhall Astra Coupe, 1m17.772s
6 Luke Hines, Vauxhall Astra Coupe, 1m17.851s
7 Michael Bentwood, Vauxhall Astra Coupe, 1m18.042s
8 Tom Chilton, Honda Civic Type-R, 1m18.281s
9 Shaun Watson-Smith, Proton Impian, 1m18.628s
10 Jason Plato, SEAT Toledo Cupra, 1m18.659s