Drivers in the Green Flag 2002 MSA British Touring Car Championship are gearing up for some explosive action next weekend, as the hugely popular series visits the UK's fastest motor racing circuit, Thruxton near Andover, over the May Bank Holiday weekend (5th/6th May).

Rounds Five and Six of the Green Flag BTCC will be held around the super fast, sweeping bends of the 2.3 mile Thruxton Circuit - a circuit that always provides spectacular race action and the opportunity for fans to get 'up close and personal' with their BTCC heroes.

And there are plenty of heroes to choose from in this year's Green Flag BTCC. Matt Neal, a real crowd favourite, will be keen for some better luck than that experienced last time out at Oulton Park in Cheshire. Neal, who had secured a tremendous double pole position at Oulton, endured two disappointing races, claiming just one fourth place and currently lies second in the points table for Egg Sport, behind fellow Vauxhall driver Yvan Muller.

Muller, the 2001 BTCC Runner-up, has been a race winner already twice this season and, despite Vauxhall missing the official Thruxton test, must be favourite for overall honours next weekend. His team mate at Vauxhall Motorsport, James Thompson, will be hoping that the technical gremlins blighting the team's winning performance at Oulton Park have been solved - so that he, too, can get back to his winning ways.

Paul O'Neill experienced the top step of the winners' rostrum for the first time at Oulton, when he scored his debut BTCC win for Egg Sport. This hugely personable Liverpudlian is more than proving his worth in Britain's premier motorsport championship and will be one to watch at Thruxton.

Although race victories so far have all gone the way of Vauxhall, the competition between manufacturers this year is intense. MG Sport and Racing is fielding two experienced drivers in Warren Hughes and Anthony Reid and has already scored three strong podium results. Likewise Team Halfords boasts the dynamic pairing of Tim Harvey and Dan Eaves, both of whom have displayed the competitiveness of the Peugeot 406 Coupé. New teams Honda Racing and Team Petronas Syntium Proton, who are developing the new Civic Type-R and Proton Impian respectively, are already mixing it with the front runners - with David Leslie scoring Team PSP's first ever podium last time out. Commented Leslie: "I had my first ever Touring car win at Thruxton so it holds many great memories for me - as well as one or two heart-stopping moments! As the fastest circuit in Britain, it is also one of the most difficult - this is a circuit you have to respect."

Others to watch out for in the main Touring Class include the Barwell Motorsport duo of Tom Chilton - the youngest ever BTCC driver who incredibly secured a podium finish on his debut at Brands Hatch - and Aaron Slight, the former World Superbike star, both of whom compete in Vauxhall Astra Coupés. Just as newsworthy is the new MG team, Team Atomic Kitten, which made a successful debut Oulton Park with Gareth Howell scoring a fine fourth place in the Feature Race .

In the Production Class, Norman Simon currently heads the points table for Edenbridge Racing. However it was James Kaye who dominated proceedings at Oulton in his Civic Type-R for Synchro Motorsport, claiming both pole positions and a race win - the other win going to Spencer Marsh for Beacon Motorsport. However all eyes will be on local driver Rob Collard (Hook) as he battles back from engine dramas and looks to regain the form that secured him a popular class victory at the opening meeting. Mark Fullalove, Tech-speed Motorsport, will also be looking for two strong results to confirm his status as championship contender - and Jim Edwards Jnr will be keen for Team B&Q Jet York City to carry the momentum from his second place finish last time out onto the Hampshire venue.

Rounds Five and Six of the Green Flag British Touring Car Championship take place at Thruxton Circuit, near Andover, on Bank Holiday Monday 6th May. The Sprint Race is scheduled to start at 12.40 with the Feature Race due to kick off at 16.15.

For ticket information please call: 01264 882200.