BTCC: Thruxton round 3 and 4 qualifying

The British Touring Car Championship
Rounds 3 + 4
Thruxton
Sunday 6th May '01

QUALIFYING REPORT

'Peugeot Closing The Gap'

The Peugeot 406 Coupe Race Team had a good day in qualifying today at Thruxton for rounds 2 and 3 of www.theAA.com BTCC.

After the first free practice this morning, Steve Soper finished 5th with Dan Eaves just 0.844 of a second behind in 6th place. Vauxhall's Jason Plato finished with a time of 1.17.587 leaving a gap of 1.823 with Steve Soper's Peugeot.

Afternoon qualifying witnessed Eaves giving a best lap time of 1:18.827 and Soper 1:18.920. Eaves and Soper will start in 5th and 6th position respectively in tomorrow's sprint race.

Mick Linford, Peugeot Motorsport Director said; "We are definitely making progress, since the official test at Thruxton only two weeks ago we have found time. Steve Soper's best lap in testing was 1:19.8 and today in qualifying his best lap was 1:18.9 so we are slowly closing in on Vauxhall and hopefully that gap will be even less at race pace."

Dan Eaves, Driver Peugeot 406 Coupe said; "I am pleased with today's qualifying. Since Brands Hatch Vic and the team have made modifications to the car, which have definitely, improved the Coupe's handling, and its speed. I found 8 tenths from the first session this morning to the second free practice, then found 6 tenths in the qualifying session from the second free practice."

Steve Soper, Driver Peugeot 406 Coupe said; " We have found 1 second in a couple of weeks, and yes we still have a second and a bit to find but we are making good progress." <pre> Results after qualifying:

POS  NO   NAME      NAT  CAR            TIME MPH
1    5    PLATO     GBR  VAUXHALL       1.17.508  109.42
2    9    THOMPSON  GBR  VAUXHALL       1.17.553  109.36
3    4    MULLER    FRA  VAUXHALL       1.17.611  109.28
4    27   BENNETT   GBR  PEUGEOT        1.17.650  109.22
5    22   EAVES     GBR  PEUGEOT        1.18.827  107.59
6    44   SOPER     GBR  PEUGEOT        1.18.920  107.47
7    14   FERRIER   GBR  ALFA ROMEO     1.20.566  105.27
8    15   PINKNEY   GBR  ALFA ROMEO     1.21.316  104.30
9    41   LUBY      GBR  LEXUS          1.21.494  104.07

-BTCC-