VX Racing experienced a mixed qualifying session in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, with Yvan Muller finishing the session in fourth place, securing a second row start for the first of tomorrow's three races. Team mate Colin Turkington suffered a frustrating day and will start from seventh on the grid, but Gavin Smith secured his highest-ever position for VX Racing in a qualifying session to start fifth.

The three VX Racing Astra Sport Hatch cars demonstrated good pace in the early stages of the 30-minute qualifying session, with Muller briefly heading the time sheets after the first flying lap. During a tense battle, where the lead changed several times and the predicted rain eventually materialised into a brief shower mid-way through the session, the VX Racing drivers fought hard to improve their lap times. As the session drew to a close, however, the VX Racing drivers were forced to settle for mid-field positions, with just one second separating the top eleven cars.

VX Racing's qualifying results were a reflection of those posted in the morning free practice sessions; Muller was fourth quickest in the first session with Smith finishing in fifth and Turkington in eleventh after rare gear box problems restricted him to completing only seven laps. Smith was again fifth in the second session, with Turkington eighth and Muller ninth as the team explored different set-up options.

The 1.2-mile Brands Hatch Indy circuit usually produces close lap times and half a second can make the difference between first and tenth. Spectators should be braced for exciting racing tomorrow as Muller challenges for the lead into the first corner – Paddock Hill Bend – the Frenchman's favourite corner of the entire series. Smith is aiming to better his highest-ever race finish for VX Racing, fifth position scored at Donington Park, and Turkington to repeat his previous Brands Hatch winning form.

Yvan Muller

"The session didn't really go very well for me - we are only in fourth place. It is still relatively early in the car's development cycle and we still haven't found the right set-up. We will have to carry on and work at it. Tyres are always an issue and if you don't have the right set-up you will use the tyres even more. We are determined to perfect the set-up, and when we do, I know we'll be quicker."

Gavin Smith

"It was a good session. When it started to rain I was on the second set of tyres and I wanted to push but I had to hold back and conserve the tyres. I decided to come in for a time and then I just didn't get the best out of that second set. For the third set I over-drove the car a bit, but I'm happy enough with the result. There was more time in the car without a doubt - it's just a shame it rained."

Colin Turkington

"It was difficult today. We have still got to find the sweet spot in the car. We're not so far off the pace, but it is so close at Brands, a tenth of a second is a long way back. It was a tricky session with the rain, but in terms of the set-up we're struggling to hit the nail on the head. So far this season, our race pace has been good so we're hoping for much better tomorrow."

The 2005 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is the first year of competition for the VX Racing Astra Sport Hatch. This year VX Racing will be aiming to repeat the triple-title winning success of the past four years.