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<body> <Table Width="550" border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="0"><TR><TD Width="35"><IMG SRC="//www.totalmotorsport.com/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="35" HEIGHT="1"></td><td> <CENTER><Table border="0" width="100%"> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="5">BTCC</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">06/05/2004</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">VX Racing Ready To Defend Early Lead At Silverstone</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">Home Circuit Advantage</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="1">  </FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2"><B>VX Racing Ready To Defend Early Lead At Silverstone</B><BR> <BR> VX Racing heads to Silverstone, for rounds seven, eight and nine of the Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship, in a buoyant mood after establishing an early lead in the team, manufacturers’ and drivers’ championships.<BR> <BR> Silverstone is the home circuit for Greatworth-based VX Racing, and usually produces good results for the team, with four podium finishes, including two wins in 2003. VX Racing young gun, Luke Hines is aiming to close the gap between his current fifth place in the drivers’ championship and join his team-mates in the top three - Yvan Muller and James Thompson are level on 64 points in the top spot.<BR> <BR> Fresh from his maiden victory in the Vauxhall Astra Coupé, and without success ballast, Hines is positive about his chances at Silverstone. “I learnt a lot at Brands Hatch,” says Hines, “It was a mixed weekend for me in terms of results, but to take my first win so early in the season is just fantastic. The extra weight of the success ballast has a major effect on the car, but I will be going to Silverstone with the advantage of racing in a lighter car. I have every intention of closing the gap to James and Yvan and making it into the top three in the drivers championship.”<BR> <BR> Thompson goes to Silverstone carrying the maximum 42 kilos of success ballast, thanks to his win in the final race at Brands Hatch. “The success ballast played a crucial role at Brands Hatch, and I’m sure it will at Silverstone. We know the Astra handles well with the extra weight but I’ll be carrying the maximum, so it will be difficult to get a good qualifying position. As always we will be working on getting the most out of the weekend, and aiming to take as many points as we can.”<BR> <BR> With the new regulations, including a reverse grid for the second race, and no mandatory pit stops, defending champion Yvan Muller struggled to find the optimum set-up at Brands Hatch, and despite securing five podium finishes out of the six races so far this season, Muller is adamant that the drivers’ championship is not currently his top priority. “At this early stage it doesn’t really matter who is leading the championship,” insists the flamboyant Frenchman. “What really matters is that we get the right set-up and are consistent in our results. There is a long way to go, with 24 races left, so talk of the championship so early is silly. We just have to work hard on finding the right set-up and taking the most points we can.”<BR> <BR> </FONT></TD></TR> </TABLE><BR> </CENTER> <BR><CENTER><font size="1" color="#808080" face="Tahoma">Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport</font></CENTER> </td> </tr> </table> </body>