Honda Racing started the second half of this year's MSA British Touring Car Championship in superb style with its first podium result since returning to the UK's premier race series at the start of this season. Having produced a stirring drive to claim fourth place in the opening Sprint Race at the Croft circuit, Andy Priaulx claimed a strong second place in the following Feature Race to underline the Civic Type-R's increasing competitiveness. Adding to the team's delight, Priaulx was the top points scorer over the weekend and has moved up to fifth place in the BTCC standings after 12 of 20 rounds.

Qualifying: Hot summer weather welcomed the BTCC teams to the North East of England and Saturday's qualifying was staged in bright sunshine. Despite starting the weekend with no previous experience on the high-speed Croft track, the two Hondas were immediately setting a searing pace. Indeed, Priaulx was fastest of all during the morning warm-up - the first time a Honda driver had topped an official timesheet since Honda Racing rejoined the BTCC at the start of this season. More importantly both Priaulx and Morrison shone when it counted with the team achieving its best qualifying performance to date. For much of both sessions it seemed as if Priaulx might claim two pole positions but the two title chasing Astras of James Thompson and Yvan Muller finally eclipsed his best efforts. However, the Guernseyman was happy to claim a pair of third places on Sunday's grids. Adding to Honda Racing's delight, Morrison was fourth quickest in both sessions and thus would start both Sprint and Feature events alongside his team-mate on the second row of the grid.

Sprint Race: Both Priaulx and Morrison made good starts to what turned out to be a dramatic and incident filled Sprint Race in front of a packed crowd basking in Sunday sunshine. The two Hondas followed the Vauxhalls into the opening corners but then Priaulx spun his Civic in the chicane on the back straight. "I was caught out by the cold tyres," admitted Andy who then produced a stunning drive, clawing his way back from a lowly 14th place to grab fourth on the final lap. "The car was just fantastic. I was the fastest car on the track for much of the race which makes my mistake all the more frustrating," said Priaulx.

After his team-mate's spin, Morrison took up the Honda challenge and was engaged with a furious dice for third place with MG driver Anthony Reid during the opening exchanges. Alan's progress, however, was halted by the introduction of the Safety Car following one of a plethora of accidents and, as the action recommenced, the Honda came under attack from the Vauxhall of series leader Matt Neal. The pair clashed knocking the Civic's steering askew and, effectively ending Morrison's hopes of a podium position. With a badly bent track-rod arm, the Honda was no longer handling perfectly. Nevertheless Alan still finished sixth. "It was a real shame. But for the Safety Car's intervention that bunched up the pack and in turn led to Neal's challenge, second place was on the cards - and that's the kind of result the team deserves. We are the fastest car out there aside from the two factory Vauxhalls," said the Ulsterman.

Feature Race: After the first lap dramas of the Sprint, the two Hondas enjoyed a less hectic start to the 25 lap Feature Race; Priaulx challenging Thompson for second place as Muller, now running with no success ballast, made his getaway. The Frenchman, however, was one of the first to make his mandatory pit-stop for new tyres and when Thompson's Vauxhall suffered an engine problem, the two on-form Hondas were out in front holding first and second places after six laps.

Adding to the excitement, quick work from the Honda Racing crew kept Priaulx in front of Muller and the field after the round of pit-stops had been completed, the Honda holding a two second advantage over the chasing Vauxhall. But then, crucially, Andy was blocked by an errant also-ran allowing Muller to close the gap.

The pair were nose to tail approaching the hairpin at the end of lap 13; so close in fact that the Frenchman's Astra hit the back of the Honda knocking the Civic's rear bumper off its mountings and leaving it dragging behind on the road. More importantly the detached bumper was also rubbing on a rear tyre causing the cockpit to fill with smoke.

"I couldn't see anything for three or four laps," explained Priaulx. In the confusion, Muller snatched the lead and, although the Honda fought back over the final few laps, Andy was more than delighted to cross the chequered in a safe second position. "What Yvan did was a bit naughty but I think we proved a point this weekend - Honda is now a force to be reckoned with. Hopefully this will be the first of many podium results for me and the team."

Morrison who also led the race briefly during the pit-stop period, seemed all set to claim his best finish of the season. He was running strongly in fourth place when the throttle linkage on his car broke with just two laps remaining.

Alan Morrison (Driver - Civic 27): "It's clear we've made a big step forwards this weekend and that's great for the team. Obviously on a personal front I'm a little bit disappointed; on another weekend I might have gone home with a couple of top four results. However all the signs are encouraging and, looking on the bright side, having failed to finish in the Feature Race, I'll start at Snetterton with no success ballast."

Andy Priaulx (Driver - Civic 28): "It's been a fantastic weekend and I'm delighted we have scored what's a thoroughly well deserved podium result. We had a fabulous pit-stop and I thought we might actually win the race but Muller was running on the minimum weight limit and he was just that little bit quicker. We have been getting stronger and stronger with every race and this result sets us up for some more podiums in the coming events."

Mike Earle (Honda Racing, team principal): "I'm really delighted for everyone involved with Honda Racing. We have been working tirelessly since the start of this project and we are now starting to see the results of our endeavours. The consistency of both our qualifying and race performances this weekend illustrates that we have the ability to run at the front for the remainder of the season. That must now be our aim."