BTCC: Snetterton testing

OFFICIAL NEWS FROM TOCA Snetterton, Norfolk, UK. Aug 23 1995

The three top championship protagonists - John Cleland, Alain Menu and Rickard Rydell - continued their battle for the most prestigious title in British motor sport by trading best lap times throughout Wednesday's TOCA test session at Snetterton. The official session was held in preparation for the next two rounds of the Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship, due to be staged at the Norfolk circuit on Monday (Aug 28). Cleland, who leads Rydell by a healthy 40 points in the title race, ended the day with the fastest lap time in his Vauxhall Cavalier - just hundredths of a second quicker than his two major rivals. However, with 24 points awarded to the winner of each of the six remaining races, the Scotsman knows his lead isn't quite as secure as it looks. "Today we've proved the Cavalier is capable of winning, now it's up to me to maintain or even increase my lead on Monday. But with Renault and Ford so close that clearly ain't going to be easy," said Cleland. Others to impress in today's test were James Kaye in the leading Honda Accord, who finished the day in a fine fifth spot, one place ahead of Total Cup competitor Matthew Neal in his privately entered Ford Mondeo. OFFICIAL TIMES 1 John Cleland (GB), Vauxhall Cavalier, 1m 12.896s, 96.40mph; 2 Alain Menu (Switz), Renault Laguna, 1:12.909; 3 Rickard Rydell (Swe), Volvo 850, 1:12.941; 4 Paul Radisich (NZ), Ford Mondeo, 1:12.947; 5 James Kaye (GB), Honda Accord; 1:13.008; 6 Matt Neal (GB), Ford Mondeo, 1:13.072; 7 Will Hoy (GB), Renault Laguna, 1:13.115; 8 Tim Harvey (GB), Volvo 850, 1:13.207; 9 Mike Briggs (SA), Vauxhall Cavalier, 1:13.449; 10 David Leslie (GB), Honda Accord, 1:13.481.

Max Communications Best in British Motorsport: http://www.demon.co.uk/racing/index.html