Manning expects Reynard to suit Brands

There are only six Reynard chassis in the field, which is dominated by Lola - the winner of the first three races. The Briton who led for 19 laps on his Champ Car debut at Rockingham last season has not managed to finish higher than 7th so far in 2003.

"A circuit like Brands Hatch, being a proper track and, compared to the other circuits we have raced on so far in America, very, very smooth tends to be where the Reynard is more equal to the Lola," he said.

"The Reynard doesn't like the bumps. You have got to raise the ride height, which means we run it higher, and that's when it loses more downforce to the Lola and certainly with all the circuits so far having been on the streest it's been hard for us.

"Also we have got to run the car in a bit of a compromise situation. For here and the Lausitzring oval in Germany next weekend, we have got to run in the same wing specification so if you go max downforce here you going to screw yourself in Germany, but if you go for low downforce you are going to screw yourself here.

"Everybody looks like they are going for a bit of a compromise. That might play in to Reynard's favour because the Lolas may have lost the plot more than we have. I think we are all right."