Turkington takes podium for MG.

Colin Turkington gave MG Sport and Racing their first podium finish of the 2003 British Touring Car Championship with third place in round seven at Silverstone today. Colin's joy was team-mate Warren Hughes' disappointment, Warren retiring from third with two laps to go.

The pair ran fourth and fifth for most of the race, holding those positions as the WSR team gave both excellent pit stops to change the front tyres. They both gained a place when the leader retired with four laps to go, but then Warren suffered the same fate - denying him third after a fine drive. Colin continued, to cross the line in third in his MG ZS, his second ever BTCC podium and his first for MG Sport and Racing.

"It's fantastic to be on the podium for MG," said Colin. "Warren had a problem on the back straight and I was sorry to see him pull off, we would have liked both of us to finish. That's my second BTCC podium so it's great to be running at the front. We'll start the next race from third on the grid, so we've got a good chance of another good result."

"What can you say?" said an obviously disappointed Warren. "We seem to have had an electrical problem. Everything just shut down on the car. The MG was good and that was easily a podium."

Anthony Reid had a hectic race, having to run wide at the first corner to avoid a spinning car, and then being given a drive through penalty after a problem with his pit stop. Anthony recovered to finish tenth.

British Touring Car Championship, Round Seven, Silverstone, 25 laps:

1 James Thompson GBR Vauxhall Motorsport Astra Coupe 38m15.108s
2 Yvan Muller FRA Vauxhall Motorsport Astra Coupe +1.925s3 Colin Turkington GBR MG Sport and Racing MG ZS +9.451s
4 Alan Morrison GBR Honda Racing Civic Type-R +12.892s
5 Tom Chilton GBR Honda Racing Civic Type-R +16.027s
6 Gavin Pyper GBR GA Motorsport Vauxhall Astra +23.819s
7 Paul O'Neill GBR Vauxhall Motorsport Astra Coupe +29.378s
8 James Kaye GBR Synchro Racing Honda Civic Type-R +31.513s
9 Gareth Howell GBR GA Motorsport Vauxhall Astra +38.405s10 Anthony Reid GBR MG Sport and Racing MG ZS +43.782s