The fast sweeping curves of Snetterton Circuit await participants in the Green Flag 2002 MSA British Touring Car Championship next weekend (27/28 July) as the premier series makes its sole visit to the popular 1.95 mile track located just outside Norwich in Norfolk.

Local fans are in for a particular treat, with two Norfolk-based drivers competing in the series this season as well as new outfit Team Petronas Syntium Proton, which operates out of purpose-built new race workshops in Dereham.

Reigning Formula Renault Champion, Carl Breeze (King's Lynn), campaigns a Peugeot 406 Coupé in the main Touring Class for Team Halfords. He scored his best finish of eighth place in the Sprint race at Croft in North Yorkshire last time out. The move from single seaters to front wheel drive saloons has been a big transition for Carl, but he should go well at his home circuit. Likewise Hyla Breese (Norwich), the Australian who moved to England in 1996, subsequently setting up home in Norwich. Hyla is a late addition to the championship and drives a Honda Accord for Team B&Q Jet York City in the Production Class.

In terms of pure Norfolk involvement, Team Petronas Syntium Proton undoubtedly boasts the greatest amount of local flavour. A heady mix of former Lotus employees and Malaysian engineering staff has created a new team bursting with enthusiasm and dedication - as showcased by veteran Touring car ace David Leslie and former Vauxhall driver Phil Bennett. Leslie has already driven his Proton Impian to four podium finishes this season, making the team by far the most successful newcomers to date.

Although Leslie, Breeze and Breese will be giving it their all in front of their home crowd, race wins are most likely to fall to one of the works Vauxhall, MG or Honda teams. Current championship leader James Thompson and his Vauxhall Motorsport team mate Yvan Muller, currently lying third overall, have each scored four wins this season - and ironically have both also suffered their fair share of bad luck. Matt Neal, in the sister Egg Sport Vauxhall Astra Coupé would have been challenging for the points lead by now, but for two non-finishes at Croft. A real crowd favourite, Neal must get his title chase back on track at Snetterton - but he faces additional competition from his rapid team mate, Paul O'Neill, who bagged his debut BTCC victory back in April.

MG Sport and Racing will also be hoping to net the maximum points haul from the weekend. The only non-Vauxhall team to have won a race in 2002 (Hughes), both Anthony Reid and Warren Hughes will be flat-out in their pursuit of a race win.

Honda Racing, which returned to the BTCC this season after a break, came very close to upsetting the form book last time out when Guernseyman Andy Priaulx spent several laps in the lead of the Feature race before having to give best to eventual race winner Muller. His second place was Honda's debut podium finish under the new technical regulations - and whilst the team still has more development to complete on its brace of Honda Civic Type-Rs, both Andy and team mate Alan Morrison are more than capable of challenging for further top three finishes.

The title racing is also hotting up in the Independents' Cup, for Touring Class drivers not entered with manufacturer support. Aaron Slight, the former World Superbike star, has impressed on his move across to four wheels for the respected Barwell Motorsport team. Aaron, who has won his class three times, currently heads the Independents' Cup by seven points from Team Halfords' Dan Eaves. With drivers keen to impress the works team managers, competition is intense - and Slight will be keeping a particular eye in his mirror for the Atomic Kitten MG ZS of young Colin Turkington, the young Irishman scoring the team's first podium finish at Croft.

The racing will be fast and furious throughout the field, with the Production Class exhibiting classic on-track action to rival the main Touring grid. Synchro Motorsport's James Kaye is currently the man to beat and having been Runner-up for the past two seasons, nothing less than overall championship honours will do this year. His healthy lead of 37 points somewhat belies the door handle-to-door handle commitment that's been required to overcome the competition. German Norman Simon has secured four race wins (one more than Kaye) in his Edenbridge Racing-run BMW 320i and lies joint second overall with Spencer Marsh, who has shone for new team Beacon Motorsport, displaying outright speed as well as consistency. Jim Edwards Jnr for Team B&Q Jet York City and Gavin Pyper, racing for Alfa specialists GA Motorsport, are always in the thick of the action, Pyper having spectacularly guided his Alfa 156 to overall honours from the back of the grid at Mondello Park in Ireland.

Green Flag BTCC qualifying takes place at 15.10 on Saturday 27 July, with the Sprint Race scheduled for 12.05 on Sunday 28 and the Feature Race due to kick off at 16.25.

If you fancy witnessing the on-track thrills and spills of the Green Flag BTCC in person, then call the ticket hotline on: 01327 850140.