BTCC: Thruxton testing Thursday

• Nick Carter
• MNI - Motorsport News International
• Sat Aug 24 11:14:38 EDT 1996

NEWS FROM THE AUTO TRADER RAC  
TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP  
Thruxton, 22/8/96 
 
Renault's Alain Menu topped the timesheets in official testing this 
afternoon (Thurs) at Thruxton in preparation for Bank Holiday 
Monday's twin rounds of the Auto Trader RAC Touring Car 
Championship.

The Swiss ace lapped the Hampshire circuit in 1m 17.660s -- just 
under the official lap record. Honda's David Leslie was second 
fastest, just five-hundredths of a second slower. Less than half a 
second covered the top eight runners, and Monday's races, rounds 21 
and 22 of the UK's top motor sport series, promises to be 
exceptionally close.

Champion elect Frank Biela failed to make the top six in his Audi 
A4, but it is unlikely to worry him -- he needs to score just 16 points 
from Monday's races to ensure that he can't be beaten for the drivers' 
championship crown.

Notable performances today included 12th position for BMW's 'third 
man', Peter Kox -- the Dutchman will race alongside team-mates Jo 
Winkelhock and Roberto Ravaglia for the first time on Monday -- 
and 11th spot for Gary Ayles in the revitalised Nissan.

There's further testing at Thruxton tomorrow (Fri), followed by 
official qualifying on Saturday prior to Monday's double-header. 
 
OFFICIAL TESTING TIMES 
THRUXTON, 22/8/96 
1  Alain Menu (Switz), Renault Laguna, 1m 17.660s, 109.21mph; 
2  David Leslie (GB), Honda Accord, 1:17.716; 
3  Roberto Ravaglia (It), BMW 320i, 1:17.802; 
4  Will Hoy (GB), Renault Laguna, 1:17.922; 
5  Jo Winkelhock (Ger), BMW 320i, 1:17.986; 
6  James Kaye (GB), Honda Accord, 1:18.052; 
7  Frank Biela (Ger), Audi A4, 1:18.073; 
8  James Thompson (GB), Vauxhall Vectra, 1:18.139; 
9  Rickard Rydell (Swe), Volvo 850, 1:18.325; 
10 John Cleland (GB), Vauxhall Vectra, 1:18.347; 
11 Gary Ayles (GB), Nissan Primera, 1:18.414; 
12 Peter Kox (Neth), BMW 320i, 1:18.451. 

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