BTCC: Thruxton Friday testing

• Nick Carter
• MNI - Motorsport News International
• Sat Aug 24 11:15:24 EDT 1996

NEWS FROM THE AUTO TRADER RAC  
TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP  
Thruxton, 23/8/96 
 
David Leslie this afternoon (Fri) lopped more than half a second from 
yesterday's best lap time in official testing for rounds 21 and 22 of
the 
Auto Trader RAC Touring Car Championship at Thruxton. The 
Honda team leader lapped the Hampshire circuit more than a tenth of 
a second quicker than his nearest rival, Renault's Alain Menu, with 
Jo Winkelhock third for BMW.

John Bintcliffe outpaced his Audi team-mate and champion elect 
Frank Biela to record fifth best time; Biela -- who stands to clinch the 
Auto Trader Championship drivers' crown if he can score well at 
Thruxton on Bank Holiday Monday -- was ninth fastest.

Official qualifying takes place at Thruxton tomorrow (Saty), with 
Monday's twin races likely to attract a record crowd to the circuit. 
 
OFFICIAL TESTING TIMES 
THRUXTON, 23/8/96 
1  David Leslie (GB), Honda Accord, 1m 17.078s, 110.03mph; 
2  Alain Menu (Switz), Renault Laguna, 1:17.214; 
3  Jo Winkelhock (Ger), BMW 320i, 1:17.490; 
4  Will Hoy (GB), Renault Laguna, 1:17.752; 
5  John Bintcliffe (GB), Audi A4, 1:17.986; 
6  James Thompson (GB), Vauxhall Vectra, 1:18.066; 
7  John Cleland (GB), Vauxhall Vectra, 1:18.074; 
8  Roberto Ravaglia (It), BMW 320i, 1:18.155; 
9  Frank Biela (Ger), Audi A4, 1:18.187; 
10 Patrick Watts (GB), Peugeot 406, 1:18.403; 
11 Peter Kox (Neth), BMW 320i, 1:18.460; 
12 James Kaye (GB), Honda Accord, 1:18.671. 

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