Reigning BTCC champs top the time sheets

The VX Racing Vauxhall team has topped the time sheets ahead of this weekend's opening round of the 2009 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championships (BTCC).

The race, which will take place at Brands Hatch circuit in Kent, will see reining Drivers' champion Fabrizio Giovanardi defending his title, after being placed top of the official time sheets this week.

Matt Neal, Giovanardi's team mate last season, takes the wheel of the No.2 VX Racing Vauxhall with 19-year-old Andrew Jordan, who will be driving the No.77 Vauxhall, completing the team when he makes his debut at Brands Hatch this weekend.

The VX Racing Vauxhall returns for its fifth consecutive season, with two championship winning years behind it.

Giovanardi has had two BTCC title wins in the last two years and is favourite to take a hat trick in 2009. He says: "I won two of the three races at this track last year, so I will be expecting to match or better this, however we will have to be careful of the BMWs.

"I don't think they have shown us their full potential and with four of these on the grid, they could give us some trouble. The short Indy circuit keeps the lap times close and it is set up which is key here."

Neal added: "It's going to be close, but I don't think some of our competitors have shown their full hand yet. It could be a bit of a scrap at the sharp end and Fabrizio is certainly my biggest competition. The Indy circuit at Brands is great for the crowd and for us drivers, with its stadium-like atmosphere, so it should be a good weekend."

The first three races of the thirty round series take place on Sunday April 5th on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit. Watch all the action on ITV4.