NEWS FROM THE AUTO TRADER RAC 
TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP 
Official Testing: Snetterton, 6/6/96 

Vauxhall and James Thompson topped the timesheets for the first 
time this season with an impressive display in official Auto Trader 
RAC Touring Car Championship testing at the Snetterton circuit this 
afternoon (Thurs).

Thompson and his new-for-96 Vectra lapped the Norfolk track in 1m 
11.908s -- two-tenths of a second under the qualifying record -- to 
head David Leslie (Honda) and Rickard Rydell (Volvo), who 
recorded an identical time of 1m 12.257s.

Thompson's team-mate, reigning champion John Cleland, posted 
fifth-best time to complete the Vauxhall celebrations. With 
championship leader Frank Biela at home in Germany today, Audi 
honour was upheld by John Bintcliffe, who was sixth quickest.

In the second Volvo at Snetterton was young Formula 3 star Jamie 
Davies, deputising for the recovering Kelvin Burt after his Oulton 
Park race crash.

The Auto Trader RAC Touring Car Championship bursts back into 
action at Snetterton next weekend (Jun 16) for a double-race 
showdown.
 
OFFICIAL BTCC TESTING TIMES  
Snetterton, 6/6/96 
1  James Thompson (GB), Vauxhall Vectra, 1m 11.908s; 
2  David Leslie (GB), Honda Accord, 1:12.257; 
3  Rickard Rydell (Swe), Volvo 850, 1:12.257; 
4  Jo Winkelhock (Ger), BMW 320i, 1:12.326; 
5  John Cleland (GB), Vauxhall Vectra, 1:12.529; 
6  John Bintcliffe (GB), Audi A4, 1:12.599; 
7  Will Hoy (GB), Renault Laguna, 1:12.618; 
8  Paul Radisich (NZ), Ford Mondeo, 1:12.685; 
9  James Kaye (GB), Honda Accord, 1:12.828; 
10 Roberto Ravaglia (It), BMW 320i, 1:12.885; 
11 Patrick Watts (GB), Peugeot 406, 1:12.888; 
12 Jamie Davies (GB), Volvo 850, 1:12.948. 
  
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Official BTCC website:
Best in British Motor Sport
http://www.demon.co.uk/racing