Practice: Rain dampens proceedings

The first session began on a damp track which didn't quite dry out fully while, after five dry minutes of the second session, the rain fell again and everyone (save Steve Soper, who had slid his Peugeot into the Druids gravel trap) finished the period on wet-weather rubber.

Muller reported no problems, other than his annoyance at having to get up early to take part in some largely meaningless running. "We've been here since eight o'clock for nothing," he grumbled. "There are no big problems, but we haven't had the opportunity to work because the first session was a bit damp and the second wet after a few minutes."

The Frenchman reckoned his works Vauxhall Astra Coupe to have another three or four-tenths to find, no problem on new tyres and a totally dry track.

Title leading 'team mate' Jason Plato was third fastest. "We had some problems this morning," he said. "The diff went a bit strange and we had to change that. It seems to have fixed the problem, but because it was wet we can't be sure. Fingers crossed."

James Thompson's Egg Sport Vauxhall nestles between the two factory cars in the order, while MG twins Anthony Reid and Warren Hughes outpaced Phil Bennett, in the fourth Astra, for fourth and fifth.

The Production class title battle is similarly finely poised between two team mates, in this case the HTML Peugeot 306 duo of Simon Harrison and Roger Moen. While the Norwegian languished eighth fastest (albeit only four-tenths from the pace), Harrison had more serious problems, conking out after just one lap. "It's a problem with the engine - a sensor or something along those lines," he said. "But everything will be fine."

James Kaye, who holds an outside chance at wresting the crown, was second in his Barwell Honda, outpaced only by the GA Janspeed Alfa of Gavin Pyper.

Yvan Muller (Vauxhall Astra Coupe) 49.849s
James Thompson (Egg Sport Vauxhall Astra Coupe) 49.961s
Jason Plato (Vauxhall Astra Coupe) 50.054s
Anthony Reid (MG ZS) 50.327s
Warren Hughes (MG ZS) 50.340s
Phil Bennett (Egg Sport Vauxhall Astra Coupe) 50.377s
Steve Soper (Peugeot 406 Coupe) 50.417s
Tom Ferrier (JSM Alfa Romeo 147) 50.547s
Dan Eaves (Peugeot 406 Coupe) 50.702s
Tim Harvey (JSM Alfa Romeo 147) 50.872s

Gavin Pyper (GA Janspeed Alfa Romeo 156) 52.148
James Kaye (Barwell Honda Accord) 52.302
Simon Graves (Barwell Honda Accord) 52.331
Paul O'Neill (Techspeed Peugeot 306) 52.431
Mat Jackson (GR Ford Focus) 52.475
Rob Collard (Collard Renault Clio) 52.531