OFFICIAL NEWS FROM TOCA

Snetterton, Norfolk. Sun 27/08/95

Rickard Rydell hopes of closing the gap between himself and series leader John
Cleland were raised today (Sunday) when the Swede took pole positions for both
of tomorrow's rounds of the Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship to
be held at Snetterton Circuit in Norfolk.

It marked the twelfth and thirteenth times that the Volvo driver has claimed
pole position in the first 21 qualifying sessions of the season. However,
Rydell who trails Cleland by 40 points in the series standings, is notorious
for throwing away his front row advantage by making slow starts.

With just six rounds left in the '95 championship and 24 points awarded to the
winner of each of tomorrow's races, Rydell can ill afford any more costly
mistakes... particularly as the Renault of arch-rival Alain Menu's lines up
alongside the Volvo at the front of the grid for both 20 lap races.

Like Rydell, Menu desperately needs two good results to maintain his challenge
- after 19 races he lays third in the points table 68 points adrift of series
leader John Cleland who starts tomorrow's races from third and sixth places on
the grid respectively.

Privateer Matthew Neal provided the biggest shock of the day by qualifying his
privately entered Ford Mondeo in a superb fifth place for round 21... in front
of the two factory-backed cars of Paul Radisich and Kelvin Burt.


QUALIFYING/STARTING GRID - Round 20
Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship
Snetterton, Norfolk. Sun 27/08/95

1 Rickard Rydell (Swe), Volvo 850 - 1 minutes 12.369 seconds, 97.10mph
2 Alain Menu (Swi), Renault Laguna - 1:12.386
3 John Cleland (GB), Vauxhall Cavalier - 1:12.507s
4 Tim Harvey (GB), Volvo 850 - 1:12.559s
5 Julian Bailey (GB), Toyota Carina - 1:12.799s
6 James Kaye (GB), Honda Accord - 1:12.800s
7 Paul Radisich (NZ), Ford Mondeo - 1:12.827s
8 Robb Gravett (GB, Ford Mondeo - 1:12.835s
9 Kelvin Burt (GB), Ford Mondeo - 1:12.920s
10 Johnny Cecotto (Ven), BMW 318i - 1:12.938s

QUALIFYING/STARTING GRID - Round 21

1 Rydell - 1:12.137s, 97.41mph
2 Menu - 1:12.603s
3 Harvey - 1:12.686s
4 Will Hoy (GB), Renault Laguna - 1:12.695s
5 Matthew Neal (GB), Ford Mondeo - 1:12.736s
6 Cleland - 1:12.821s
7 Tim Sugden (GB), Toyota Carina - 1:12.857s
8 Mike Briggs (ZA), Vauxhall Cavalier - 1:12.916s
9 Radisich - 1:12.931s
10 Simon Harrison (GB), Peugeot 405 - 1:12.970s


Vauxhall and Volvo teams have withdrawn the appeals lodged with officials
after the last two rounds of the Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car
Championship held at Brands Hatch on 13 August. These appeals followed a couple
of controversial on-track clashes between the two leading title protagonists:
Vauxhall's John Cleland and Volvo's Rickard Rydell.

Both teams say they have dropped their respective appeals in the best
interests of the BTCC and of the sport in general.

"It leaves the way open for the championship to reach an exciting conclusion,"
says series leader Cleland. "Both Rickard and I are determined to win the
title, but we both agree we want to win it on the racetrack."

Speaking on behalf of Volvo, TWR Racing's Team Director Roger Silman says: "I
think we are all pleased that the battle can and should be confined to the
racetrack. Now we want to concentrate the minds of both Rickard and the team
towards what is still a realistic shot at the title."

The title chase continues at the Snetterton Circuit in Norfolk this Bank
Holiday Monday 28 August with rounds 20 and 21 of the hard fought 25 race Auto
Trader Championship.

Max Communications
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