Team Halfords ready for retribution.

This week Team Halfords prepares to confront the fastest circuit of the year, as the Green Flag British Touring Car Championship heads South to Thruxton for this weekend's May bank holiday.

The team will certainly be looking for retribution after Harvey lost his well-earned first podium of the season at Oulton Park last week.

Thruxton is a high-speed circuit and one that holds a few ghosts for the 406 Coupes. In 2001 Steve Soper's catastrophic collision on a Toca test day, and the cars then being pulled from the circuit on race weekend, all due to a series of punctures, made Thruxton a tough circuit for the sizeable coupe. But the new 2002 Team Halfords 406 Coupe has been developed with last year's problems in mind, and the progress should prove a blessing for the team this year.

The circuit's high speed and hard breaking is always known for being tough on tyres. BF Goodrich, the supplier of the Championship tyres, has developed a new tyre compound in conjunction with the team specifically for Thruxton.

Both Dan Eaves and Tim Harvey have considerable experience around the circuit, and after two eventful race weekends they are determined to settle the cars down into a winning routine.

Dan Eaves comments: "Thruxton is an exhilarating circuit, and despite the problems we had here last year, I'm more than confident we have solved any problems we had. The Hampshire circuit will also be great for the spectators as there are lots of overtaking spots that really encourage close competitive racing."

"It was frustrating that I finished out of the points at Oulton but on the plus side I don't have any success ballast, which is always a real disadvantage around the faster circuits."

Tim Harvey added: "I was disappointed by last weekend's result, because as I saw it I had earned my second position fair and square but rules are rules. Vic took a gamble that the safety car would be deployed and I would then be able to get back into the pits to change the remaining front tyre, and rejoin the race without losing too much ground. It was the right decision for the team, unfortunately this time it didn't work to our advantage, so I lost the points but I have also gained the success ballast. But that's fine, there's nothing I like more than a challenge!"