BTCC: Silverstone qualifying

• Nick Carter
• MNI - Motorsport News International
• Mon Jul 15 11:34:38 EDT 1996

NEWS FROM THE AUTO TRADER RAC     
TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP    
Silverstone 12/7/96  
  
THE Honda team notched up its first ever pole position in the Auto  
Trader RAC Touring Car Championship when Scot David Leslie  
outgunned the opposition at Silverstone today (Fri) in official  
qualifying for tomorrow's round 15 of the championship. 
 
Leslie, boosted by a new development of engine in his Honda Accord,  
was more than half a second quicker on the Silverstone Grand Prix  
circuit than his nearest rival, BMW's Roberto Ravaglia. Said Leslie:  
'I'm over the moon; everything worked perfectly when it really  
mattered. I'm confident for the race and we've found a good set-up --  
we're looking for that elusive first win.' 
 
Third and fourth quickest today were the Volvos of Rickard Rydell  
and Kelvin Burt, ahead of Alain Menu's Renault, which blew an  
engine. 'I only got one quick lap in before the engine blew big time,'  
said the Swiss victor of the last two rounds. 'A couple more laps and I  
would have had pole for sure.' 
 
Championship leader Frank Biela (Audi) and reigning champion  
John Cleland (Vauxhall) could manage no better than seventh and  
ninth respectively, both complaining of a lack of grip.

Tomorrow's race is followed by a further round of the BTCC 
immediately after Sunday's British Grand Prix. 
 
OFFICIAL QUALIFYING: ROUND 15  
1  David Leslie (GB), Honda Accord, 1m 55.902s, 97.90mph;  
2  Roberto Ravaglia (It), BMW 320i, 1:56.423;  
3  Rickard Rydell (Swe), Volvo 850, 1:56.475;  
4  Kelvin Burt (GB), Volvo 850, 1:56.530;  
5  Alain Menu (Switz), Renault Laguna, 1:56.724.

-- 
Official BTCC website:
Best in British Motor Sport
http://www.demon.co.uk/racing