Anthony Reid for MG Sport and Racing became the first non-Vauxhall driver this season to claim pole position by topping the time sheets in the second half of a sweltering Green Flag BTCC qualifying this afternoon. Reid, who starts from pole for the Feature Race on Monday, and from fourth on the grid for the Sprint Race, was clearly delighted with the result:

“I’ve just come back off holiday with my batteries fully recharged in anticipation of this weekend and Le Mans! It’s clear we’ve made progress with the whole car and moved forward in every area – and these are the results you see today.”

Matt Neal for Egg Sport put in a cracking performance to clinch pole for the Sprint Race, despite a late segment charge from Reid’s team mate, Warren Hughes, who ended up just 9/100ths of a second shy of Neal. Hughes proved the MG’s pace beyond question by securing fourth for the Feature Race, just 1/10th of a second off Reid.

The other driver on the move during the qualifying session was Neal’s Egg Sport team mate, Paul O’Neill. After a relatively disappointing Thruxton race last time out, O’Neill bounced back to hold pole for the majority of the Sprint Race qualifying, being demoted by Neal and Hughes only in the dying minutes of the segment. Carrying the momentum through to the second half of the session, he authoritatively claimed second for the Feature Race, just 3/100ths of a second off Reid – and over the moon to be the top Vauxhall driver.

Also thrilled with his performance was Aaron Slight for Barwell Motorsport. The former Superbike star, who was baulked on his quick lap for the Sprint Race, got it all together in the second half to slam his Independent Vauxhall Astra firmly on the inside of the second row.

Lining up directly behind him in fifth position for the Feature Race, a position he also resigned himself to for the Sprint Race, is Vauxhall Motorsport ‘s James Thompson. A combination of set up gremlins and the wrong tyre choice blighted ‘Thommo’s’ session, however the Yorkshireman comprehensively outqualified his team mate and 2001 Runner up Yvan Muller who, in addition to carrying the maximum success ballast, suffered from an engine misfire throughout and could only manage seventh for the Sprint Race and 12th for the Feature.

Sixth quickest for both races - and less than half a second off pole - is Honda Racing’s Alan Morrison. Having translated his recent testing form into two solid grid positions, the Irishman will be keen to start putting together some race results this weekend.

Team Atomic Kitten and Team Halfords round out the top ten for both races tomorrow – and with just one second covering the top 15 drivers for the Feature Race, new boys Team Petronas Syntium Proton will also be in the thick of the action all the way.

The Production Class also laid down the gauntlet in the fight to be at the front of the grid for the Jubilee race meeting at Silverstone.

The Home of British Motorsport has already thrown up a few surprises for spectators as 2002 BTCC newcomer Kelvin Burt claimed a superb double pole for the Gary Ayles Motorsport outfit with a time of 1:32.674 in the first segment and 1:32.671 in the second. The experienced tin top driver is a temporary replacement for Gavin Pyper, who has had his licence suspended by the MSA prior to a hearing for an incident last time out at Thruxton.

An ecstatic Burt commented:

“I was fastest during yesterday’s free practice so that was encouraging. But to get double pole is great! The Alfa is a quick car. I’m really happy with it and am confident that we can win the first race. The Feature Race will be harder because of the success ballast you inherit if you win the Sprint Race but we will give it our best shot!”

Current BTC Production Drivers’ Championship leader James Kaye refused to take a back seat even though he was carrying the maximum success ballast of 42kgs. The Synchro Motorsport driver’s foot was flat to the floor around the Northampton circuit but he could not quite match the pace of Burt’s Alfa Romeo 156, qualifying just under 1/10th of a second slower for the Sprint Race and just under 7/10ths of a second slower for the Feature Race. He will start both races in second position.

Edenbridge Racing’s Norman Simon will line up in third next to Kaye for tomorrow’s Sprint Race in his BMW 320i. Fans can expect a great start from the German, his rear wheel drive having powered him to the front of the pack on many previous occasions. Simon will start from fourth in the Feature Race as Gary Ayles Motorsport’s Alan Blencowe pipped him to the post to join the fray in third.

The session was also not without its dramas. Collard Racing’s Robert Collard was running well in the first segment until his engine blew down the back straight after Ireland. He qualified in fourth for the Sprint Race but could not rejoin the session in time for the second segment. The 2001 Lotus Elise Champion Mark Fullalove also set a good time in the first segment, qualifying fifth for the Sprint Race, but broke his gearbox in the same segment so will join Collard at the back of the grid for the Feature Race.

Kick off for the Sprint Race is 12:10 tomorrow, Bank Holiday Monday, with the Feature Race scheduled for 16:10. The closeness of qualifying today suggests that Rounds Seven and Eight of the Green Flag BTCC will deliver the excitement of an England World Cup Final!