Radermecker sets testing pace

The Vectra ace claimed the fastest time by more than two tenths of a second in a curtailed test session ahead of Monday's rounds nine and ten.

With three manufacturers represented in the top four today, Monday's racing is shaping up to be the closest yet this year. Honda's Tom Kristensen posted the second quickest time in his Accord, with Radermecker's team-mate Jason Plato third and Ford's Rickard Rydell fourth, despite carrying 40kg of success ballast in the Mondeo following his victory in round seven.

Said Radermecker, who set his time before a severe hailstorm hit the circuit: "All the modifications we have made to the car worked today and it was not especially difficult to set the time. We didn't really finish everything we wanted to do because the session was stopped early but the time gives me confidence for the races this weekend."

The three-hour test ended half-an-hour early when Class B runner Mark Lemmer, second quickest behind Alan Morrison's Peugeot, lost control of his Barwell Motorsport Honda Integra Type R following the storm and went
into the barriers. He emerged unscathed, but the testing was red-flagged so his car could be removed and the barriers repaired.

Lemmer said: "I just missed a gear, got a wheel on the dirt and it got away from me. I went in quite hard but hopefully the car will be ready for qualifying tomorrow."

TOP TIMES FROM OULTON PARK CIRCUIT
1 Vincent Radermecker Vauxhall Vectra 1:23.423s
2 Tom Kristensen Honda Accord 1:23.638s
3 Jason Plato Vauxhall Vectra 1:23.862s
4 Rickard Rydell Ford Mondeo Zetec 1:23.892s
5 Alain Menu Ford Mondeo Zetec 1:24.045s
6 Anthony Reid Ford Mondeo Zetec 1:24.109s
7 Yvan Muller Vauxhall Vectra 1:24.175s
8 Matt Neal Nissan Primera GT 1:24.245s
9 Gabriele Tarquini Honda Accord 1:24.418s
10 James Thompson Honda Accord 1:24.739s
Class B
1 Alan Morrison Peugeot 306 GTi 1:34.441s