The British Touring Car Championship
Rounds 3 + 4
Thruxton
Sunday 6th May '01
QUALIFYING REPORT
'Peugeot Closing The Gap'
The Peugeot 406 Coupe Race Team had a good day in qualifying today at Thruxton for rounds 2 and 3 of www.theAA.com BTCC.
After the first free practice this morning, Steve Soper finished 5th with Dan Eaves just 0.844 of a second behind in 6th place. Vauxhall's Jason Plato finished with a time of 1.17.587 leaving a gap of 1.823 with Steve Soper's Peugeot.
Afternoon qualifying witnessed Eaves giving a best lap time of 1:18.827 and Soper 1:18.920. Eaves and Soper will start in 5th and 6th position respectively in tomorrow's sprint race.
Mick Linford, Peugeot Motorsport Director said; "We are definitely making progress, since the official test at Thruxton only two weeks ago we have found time. Steve Soper's best lap in testing was 1:19.8 and today in qualifying his best lap was 1:18.9 so we are slowly closing in on Vauxhall and hopefully that gap will be even less at race pace."
Dan Eaves, Driver Peugeot 406 Coupe said; "I am pleased with today's qualifying. Since Brands Hatch Vic and the team have made modifications to the car, which have definitely, improved the Coupe's handling, and its speed. I found 8 tenths from the first session this morning to the second free practice, then found 6 tenths in the qualifying session from the second free practice."
Steve Soper, Driver Peugeot 406 Coupe said; " We have found 1 second in a couple of weeks, and yes we still have a second and a bit to find but we are making good progress." <pre> Results after qualifying:
POS NO NAME NAT CAR TIME MPH 1 5 PLATO GBR VAUXHALL 1.17.508 109.42 2 9 THOMPSON GBR VAUXHALL 1.17.553 109.36 3 4 MULLER FRA VAUXHALL 1.17.611 109.28 4 27 BENNETT GBR PEUGEOT 1.17.650 109.22 5 22 EAVES GBR PEUGEOT 1.18.827 107.59 6 44 SOPER GBR PEUGEOT 1.18.920 107.47 7 14 FERRIER GBR ALFA ROMEO 1.20.566 105.27 8 15 PINKNEY GBR ALFA ROMEO 1.21.316 104.30 9 41 LUBY GBR LEXUS 1.21.494 104.07
-BTCC-
