VAUXHALL AND HONDA TOP THE TIMES AFTER BLISTERING GREEN FLAG BTCC QUALIFYING

Vauxhall Motorsport’s James Thompson edged out fellow Vauxhall runner Matt Neal (Egg Sport) to claim his fifth pole position of the season for tomorrow’s Green Flag 2002 MSA British Touring Car Championship sprint race at Donington Park. Having suffered another engine change (over and above the permitted number) after Friday’s free practice sessions - and in the process losing the championship lead to team mate and rival Yvan Muller - the extra point means that ‘Thommo’ and Muller go into tomorrow’s two races sensationally tied at the top of the table.

Another Vauxhall lockout of the top three positions looked on the cards for the second segment in qualifying, when times are set for tomorrow’s feature race. But Honda Racing’s Andy Priaulx had other ideas and snatched pole by just 2/100th of a second from Neal on the very last lap.

With all three title protagonists – Thompson, Muller and Neal - set to line up alongside one another for both races tomorrow, the pressure could not be more intense. And both Thompson and Priaulx face very different pressures in their roles as respective pole-sitters:

Thompson commented:

“This is the first time I’ve scored a point in two races! At least we’re starting to claw it back after my dramas at Brands. Whatever happens in the first race, the points situation means it will all come down to the feature race. That doesn’t mean the pressure’s off - and with all three of us right up there for both races I’ll be looking to make the very most of pole.”

Priaulx added:

“I was really pleased to find the time in the second segment and delighted with my third pole of the year for Honda Racing. With the championship battle playing out around me, I’m going to be the meat in the sandwich, but it should be interesting!”

Priaulx could well count himself unlucky not to have stolen a double pole this afternoon. Very quick during Friday’s free practice sessions, he hit the top of the time sheets early on but was subsequently restricted to just four laps when his ECU failed. Fortunately his one flying lap was quick enough to secure fourth overall for the sprint race. Thompson immediately took over the poleman mantle with a lap just 8/100th of a second quicker than Egg Sport’s Matt Neal, who was flying in his identical Vauxhall Astra Coupé. A blistering lap by Neal saw him reduce Thompson’s advantage to just 6/100th of a second but despite another gargantuan effort over the closing minutes of the first segment, the popular Midlander was unable to better Thompson’s time.

Muller, by his own admission not particularly strong around the scenic Derbyshire circuit, struggled with set-up during the first segment. However a concerted effort by the flamboyant Frenchman and his Vauxhall Motorsport engineers enabled him to post the third quickest time on his final lap.

Anthony Reid was a fine fifth overall for MG Sport and Racing, just behind Priaulx, with Paul O’Neill putting on an impressive performance to round out the top six for Egg Sport.

Team Halfords’ Carl Breeze made all the early running for the Independents’ Cup pole position, but he was eventually demoted by Barwell Motorsport’s Tom Chilton - the youngster really hooking it all up to finish eighth quickest, just behind Honda Racing’s Alan Morrison and ahead of David Leslie for Team Petronas Syntium Proton. Chilton’s team mate, Aaron Slight - who currently heads the Independents’ points table - was a disappointed 15th.

As the second segment began it was very clear who was going to set the benchmark. Neal was looking awesome and immediately posted the quickest time of the day ahead of Priaulx and Gareth Howell for Team Atomic Kitten. Clearly revelling in the performance of his Egg Sport Astra, Neal reduced his own pole time by 2/10th of a second on his second flying lap and then incredibly found nearly half a second with just four minutes to run – surely pole position was in the bag? Priaulx, however, had other ideas. Having re-established himself in second place with ten minutes to run, the Honda Racing man was on a mission and, on the very last lap, he sensationally snatched pole by just 2/100th of a second.

Thompson had a hectic time in the second segment but still managed to bag third place, behind a bemused Neal who admitted he thought his pole time was unbeatable. Muller was again satisfied with his performance and will start the feature race alongside his team mate in fourth. Gareth Howell recovered from set-up dramas in the first segment to secure a fine fifth position for Team Atomic Kitten and take pole in the Independents’ Cup. Honda’s Alan Morrison, carrying 30kgs of success ballast, added a sixth place to his seventh position from the sprint race.

Race winner last time out at Brands Hatch, Warren Hughes, had a miserable qualifying session in his MG Sport and Racing MG ZS. Suffering with 42kgs of success ballast, he could only manage the 15th quickest time for the feature race – and team mate Reid was similarly despondent after a solid performance earlier in the session. Reid will start from tenth position, just behind Independents’ Cup points leader, Slight, who enjoyed a much better feature race segment in his Barwell Motosport-run Astra Coupé.

The fight for the top grid positions was just as furious in the Production category. Gary Ayles Motorsport’s Gavin Pyper secured pole for the sprint race with a superb time of 1:46.519, throwing a spanner in the works for the title protagonists, James Kaye and Norman Simon, who qualified in second and third respectively. Kaye could potentially secure the BTC Production Drivers’ Championship in the sprint race as he does have a comfortable points cushion from nearest rival Simon. But with speedy Scot Pyper sitting in the top spot for the first of tomorrow’s two races he will have his work well and truly cut out. And Edenbridge Racing’s Norman Simon will be pushing harder than ever before to ensure that the fight for overall honours goes right down to the wire – to the final round, the feature race.

Kaye commented:

“I have said before that motorsport is unpredictable and anything can happen. I wouldn’t like to count my chickens but I will definitely be gunning for the championship trophy during the Sprint Race. If luck is on my side, I will be celebrating before round 20. Anyone that tries to stop me – well it will be pistols at dawn!”

Pyper’s performance during sprint race qualifying means he has placed himself in a strong position to take the championship’s third place laurels. His main combatants, Beacon Motorsport’s Spencer Marsh and Edenbridge Racing’s Tom Boardman, start from eighth and sixth place respectively and Team B&Q Jet York City’s Jim Edwards Jnr, who was also in with a shout, is on the back of the grid for both races due to electrical problems which forced the Berkshire driver to retire from the session. But Pyper’s fortune went down a similar avenue for the feature race, when gearbox problems in the first segment resulted in his Alfa 156 limping home without setting a time. He consequently joins Edwards Jnr at the back of the grid.

With Pyper out of the way, Kaye hit back in the second segment to take pole for the feature race setting a time of 1:46.799. German Simon, who was carrying the maximum success ballast of 42kgs – 12kgs more than Kaye - was also taking no prisoners and qualified second, only just over 4/100th of a second shy of Kaye. With nothing to lose many Production boys were going for the kill and Gary Ayles Motorsport’s Graham Saunders emerged from the segment victorious after setting a time just 5/10th of a second behind the tail-pipe of Simon, thus claiming the third place start. Marsh took fourth position and Boardman sixth. It’s all to play for…

The Green Flag BTCC Grand Finale kicks off tomorrow with the sprint race scheduled for 12.55, followed by the championship-deciding feature race at 16.15.