MG top the times at launch test.

MG XPOWER driver Warren Hughes topped the times yesterday at Brands Hatch at the afternoon test following the media launch day for the 2003 British Touring Car Championship.

The British media gathered at Brands Hatch to see the unveiling of the 2003 championship and entries from MG XPOWER, Vauxhall, Honda and Proton were on hand to meet the media and then take to the track for testing duties in the afternoon.

New XPOWER recruit Colin Turkington was set to be second fastest of the day until in the last lap of his day Honda's Matt Neal pipped the young Ulsterman for second fastest time.

Anthony Reid ended the day after running some 72 laps with the seventh quickest time, just ahead of reigning champ James Thompson on the timesheets. Just 0.625 seconds separated the twelve running Touring car drivers at the test, which signifies that there should be some pretty close racing come the start of the season.

The BTCC season starts in Mondello park on the 21st of April.

Brands Hatch media day test times

1 Warren HUGHES MG ZS 49.219secs
2 2 Matt NEAL Honda Civic Type-R 49.343secs 3 Colin TURKINGTON MG ZS 49.460secs
4 Gavin PYPER Vauxhall Astra Coupe 49.519secs
5 Yvan MULLER Vauxhall Astra Coupe 49.574secs
6 Paul O'NEILL Vauxhall Astra Coupe 49.608secs 7 Anthony REID MG ZS 49.616secs
8 James THOMPSON 8 Vauxhall Astra Coupe 49.625secs
9 Tom CHILTON Honda Civic Type-R 49.649secs
10 Phil BENNETT Proton Impian 49.813secs
11 David LESLIE Proton Impian 49.832secs
12 Robert COLLARD Vauxhall Astra Coupe 49.894secs
13 Michael BENTWOOD BMW 320i 52.114secs
14 Chris RYAN Alfa Romeo 156 53.378secs
15 Tom BOARDMAN Peugeot 307 53.490secs