The Vauxhalls of VX Racing are hot favourites to win the manufacturer's title in Britain's top motor racing series, the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, in the final three races of the season at Brands Hatch tomorrow (Sunday) - and in today's timed qualifying, the team's star driver, Yvan Muller, kept Matt Neal (Honda Integra) under pressure in the battle for the driver's crown.

Whereas the Vauxhalls are virtually assured of the manufacturer's honours for the fifth successive year, the odds are against Muller in the drivers' fight, as he's 30 points behind Neal - but there is a maximum score of 52 points up for grabs on Sunday, and today Muller outpaced Neal. Muller set third-fastest time of the day (1'33.040"), Neal (1' 33.206") was sixth.

VX Racing's strongest performance of the day came from Gavin Smith, who set second-fastest time (1' 32.986") to start the first of tomorrow's three races from the front row of the grid. Smith, in his first full season of the BTCC, achieved his best result at Silverstone just two weeks ago, with a second place.

VX Racing's other driver, Colin Turkington, was disappointed with eighth place in the season's final qualifying session, but nevertheless is right behind Neal on the grid.

Sunday's rounds 28, 29 and 30 of the BTCC each take place over 14 laps of the fast and flowing 2.60-mile Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit, where Muller is the BTCC lap record holder.

Gavin Smith
Qualified 2nd, 1' 32.986" (94.21mph lap average)
"The car felt really good; the balance was there, the pace was there, and the tyre temperature worked. I got a good lap with few mistakes."

Yvan Muller
Qualified 3rd, 1'33.040" (93.75mph lap average)
"Considering we didn't work on a qualifying set-up, but concentrated on getting the car set-up for the race, I'm happy. I'm further behind (pole) than I would like, but it's not too bad. The car is very good through the corners."

Colin Turkington
Qualified 8th, 1' 33.382" (93.41mph lap average)
"I just couldn't get the tyre to work [at optimum temperature] on the first lap, so I've got understeer. It's frustrating. Tomorrow I'm just going to run my own race and try to get to the front."

Mike Nicholson
VX Racing Operations Manager
"Overall, a pleasing day. The Astra's chassis is so good that we're coming out of the corners quicker than the others. Silverstone was just the confidence-boost that Gavin needed, and hopefully we can turn his qualifying performance into another good result tomorrow. Yvan's performance was strong, too - and stronger than Matt's. Colin's not that far behind Matt, so he could figure too."