Reid leads MG charge in split session.

Anthony Reid was the lead MG after qualifying at Donington Park in a session that was split in two after the red flags came out.

Anthony qualified an eventual seventh place after the red flags came out around the thirteen minute mark of the twenty minute qualifying session, the cause being Frenchman Yvan Muller whose return from his 11 day ban saw a mere two laps before the BTCC title leader saw the end of his session due to an electrical problem.

In the first half of the split qualifying session the MGs had been looking strong. After their double win at Brands Hatch last time out in the premier British motor racing championship, hopes were high heading to Donington. However, with good results comes higher ballast, so the MG drivers were carrying weight for the qualifying session today at the East Midlands circuit.

The success ballast didn't seem to hamper the MGs early in the twenty minute qualifying session however. Indeed, as the session settled in the second, third and fourth spots on the lap time monitors were occupied by MG ZSs.

Colin Turkington, winner of the second race at Brands Hatch, and therefore the heaviest car on the track, took to the Donington track with aplomb. Warren Hughes was next up with Anthony Reid bringing up the rear in the MG charge. Warren was soon in his stride, however, and placed his MG as the fastest of the trio.

Then it was all change. Yvan Muller, who has just finished his 11 day ban following his post race fracas with Anthony Reid, managed a mere two laps on track before parking his car at the side of the track and bringing out the red flags to stop the session.

Muller's VX Racing Astra moved, the qualifying session could then recommence. In qualifying part two the MGs didn't fair quite so well. Whilst their rivals were able to improve their times the MGs struggled to do so. The experienced Anthony Reid did manage to do so, but the eventual seventh place was frustrating for all concerned.

Tomorrow at Donington the smart money's on there being a wet race. "I'm going to have to see the people at the BBC weather centre," explained Anthony. "I think it's going to be raining tomorrow and in the wet we've certainly got a chance of winning."

Last qualifying MG Colin Turkington is hampered by maximum success ballast in the first race tomorrow, but this means he should be better placed for the second race of the day.

"I'm looking for a solid finish somewhere inside the top ten then we'll be light and can go for it in race two, we should have a very good shot at it I'll give it my all," explained Colin who took his first ever BTCC race win at Brands Hatch two weeks ago.

Warren Hughes meanwhile sits between his two team-mates for tomorrow's race. After making the car more to his liking from yesterday, Warren is hoping for a similar gain for tomorrow's races. "We've improved the car from yesterday," said Warren after the qualifying session. "Everything in the first part of the session was looking good and I'm trying to get the balance more to my liking. If I could have the gain I had overnight then we can do something tomorrow."

Donington qualifying
1. James Thompson 1m 14.610s
2. Matt Neal 1m 14.782s
3. Rob Collard 1m 15.100s
4. Tom Chilton 1m 15.147s
5. Paul O'Neill 1m 15.188s
6. Alan Morrison 1m 15.218s7. Anthony Reid MG ZS 1m 15.311s
8. Carl Breeze 1m 15.347s9. Warren Hughes MG ZS 1m 15.486s
10. David Leslie 1m 15.493s

12. Colin Turkington MG ZS 1m 15.564s