Brands Hatch Indy circuit fills with sunshine and spectators, who will be in store for a treat as they flock to watch BTC Touring and Production races at the first of thirteen race meetings of the TOCA Tour, sponsored by 'theAA.com'.

The day starts with Touring car practice where Peugeot's strong performance gave fellow competitors a run for their money, Steve Soper completed a fastest lap of with Matt Neal close behind with a time of 50.618, improving their previous qualifying times.

Dan Eaves, Peugeot's youngest recruit was in and out of the pit lane, before finally losing a wheel coming out of the paddock hill bend, with suspected problems with the wheel nuts, previously experienced by car 22. Fortunately Dan realised there was a problem, and managed to slow the car down reducing further structural damage.

Dave Pinkny was also out on the grid for the first showing of his Alfa Romeo 147, putting in a personal best of 51.419. The JSM team only managed only 3 laps during qualifying sessions; the team were more than pleased with the result

Phil Bennett spent most of his practiced session in the pit lane, with the Bonnet raised, yet managed to make it out a few minutes to the end of the session, and completed 3 laps.

RESULTS FROM SPRINT RACE

After a fantastic start for the Peugeot's with Steve Soper taking an early 4th position and Matt Neal in tow with 5th position. All changed on lap 3 for the afore mentioned cars, with Matt spinning of at Graham Hill and Steve making an unscheduled pit stop after a suspect lose wheel was causing problems.

Dan Eaves continued the on-slaught for Peugeot and kept his place close behind the 4 Vauxhalls.

A RESOUNDING SUCCESS FOR THE TOCA TOUR

The new look BTCC lived up to its name as the first seven cars prepared themselves for their 50-lap marathon of intense Peugeot vs Vauxhall head to head competition.

With the Vauxhalls leading the Peugeots at an average of 1 second per lap, this was not going to be easy for the works drivers Dan Eaves, Matt Neal and Steve Soper, who have been positive about the 406 Coupes and its potential for the season.

Only 3 laps in and the pressure was getting too much for some, Annie Templeton spun her 306 causing a 3 lap stint under the safety car. Further up the field the intense battle between Steve Soper and Phil Bennett proved a real crowd pleaser, Steve's late breaking and considerable knowledge of every possible line on the track managed to fend off the Vauxhall for several laps, but the superior speed of the Astra meant there was little more Steve could do than watch Bennett pass.

Dave Pinkney's Alfa Romeo 147 also put in a celebrity appearance, deciding he could achieve extra testing time. Never the less he put in a competitive time, and will prove to be a real contender for rounds 3 & 4.

Lap 21 saw Yvan Muller complete his specified pit stop, yet after only 1 lap he found himself back in the pit lane with engine trouble, Muller was out of the race!

Steve Soper completed several laps leading the field, collecting valuable points for the team, but with Phil Bennett 5.884 seconds behind and Steve with a mandatory pit stop on the cards Peugeot would not lead the grid for long. After all pit stop's the 3 Vauxhalls lead the 3 Peugeots to the end of the race.

Vic Lee Team Director VLR said: 'We are pleased with the 100% reliability we achieved from the 3 Coupes; we just need to find more speed. For the first race of the season we are content with the result, as we knew our times was inferior to the Vauxhalls, the boys drove an outstanding race and we are all positive for the rest of the season.'

Peugeot Sport will be testing again at Thruxton this Friday!

Rounds 3 & 4 of the BTCC will be held at Thruxton on the 6th and 7th of May.