Leading pair set for Mondello showdown

The Green Flag British Touring Car Championship reaches the halfway point when it reaches Mondello Park in Co Kildare on Sunday with team-mates James Thompson and Yvan Muller locked in a race for the title.

The VX Racing Vauxhall drivers both have 124 points going into the fifth round at Mondello from the 10-round series.

Both drivers have good memories from Mondello last year as Thompson took two race wins and Muller joined him on the podium twice as runner-up.

But Muller goes to Mondello as the man in form, the Frenchman having won two of the three races last time out at Oulton Park in his Astra Coupe.

Muller said: “Oulton was a good weekend for me. At first we struggled with the set-up because I was running without ballast, but we got the results and that’s what counts.”

But Muller knows he will be handicapped because of his two race wins at Oulton.

“I will have the penalty of success ballast at Mondello, but the team and the car cope very well with the handicap,” he claimed.

“It does affect the car’s performance, but hopefully will not be too much of a problem.”

Muller also realises Thompson will not have to cope with such a big handicap.

“James’ car will be slightly lighter than mine, so I expect him to be quick in qualifying,” said Muller.

“I will just be trying to score as many points as I can – there is still a long way to go in the championship and a lot can happen.”