BTCC: Silverstone testing March 26/27

News from the Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship Silverstone, 27/3/98

THOMPSON ON TOP TESTING FORM AGAIN

James Thompson and Honda continued their strong run of pre-season testing form, topping the Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship official testing timesheets once again this afternoon (Fri). After two days of testing at Silverstone, 23-year-old Thompson emerged quickest by more than a tenth of a second in his Accord.

Second fastest was the BTCC's latest recruit from the Formula 1 ranks, Gianni Morbidelli. The Italian was seven-hundredths quicker than his Swedish Volvo team- mate Rickard Rydell, with French ace Yvan Muller fourth for Audi.

The Renaults of reigning champion Alain Menu and his team-mate Jason Plato completed the top six. Norwegian independent Tommy Rustad, in the DC Cook Laguna, was an impressive 10th, just ahead of Derek Warwick's Vauxhall and the Ford of Will Hoy.

Yesterday, in very wet conditions, it was Rydell who set the pace, lapping the Northants track in 1m 32.026s, ahead of Menu, Plato and Nissan's Anthony Reid.

Further Auto Trader BTCC testing is scheduled for the Brands Hatch circuit next week (Apr 1/2) before the teams head for Thruxton and the Easter Monday (Apr 13) championship opener.

Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship Official testing / Silverstone, Northants / 26 & 27 March 1998

1   James Thompson  GB      Honda Accord    1m 23.332s  97.28mph
2   Gianni Morbidelli  ITA  Volvo S40       1m 23.457s
3   Rickard Rydell  SWE     Volvo S40       1m 23.534s
4   Yvan Muller  FRA        Audi A4         1m 23.618s
5   Alain Menu  SWI         Renault Laguna  1m 23.655s
6   Jason Plato  GB         Renault Laguna  1m 23.739s
7   Anthony Reid  GB        Nissan Primera  1m 23.903s
8   Peter Kox  NL           Honda Accord    1m 24.043s
9   David Leslie  GB        Nissan Primera  1m 24.071s
10  Tommy Rustad  NOR       Renault Laguna  1m 24.077s

-- BTCC official website www.btcc.co.uk