Menu's qualifying double top.

Alain Menu struck the first blow of the Auto Trader British Touring Car Championship [BTCC] by claiming pole position for both season-opening races at Brands Hatch.

The 1997 BTCC champion was in untouchable form with his Ford Mondeo around the sun-drenched 2.62-mile Brands Hatch grand prix circuit, and has taken an early lead in the series standings by accruing a point for each top slot.

''We had two poles to get today and I got them both,'' the Swiss star smiled, ''Let's hope I can do the same [in the two races] tomorrow.''

Sweden's Rickard Rydell made it an all Ford front-row for both races, the 1998 champion proving second quickest by less than two tenths of a second on each occasion. Vauxhall's flying Frenchman, Yvan Muller, completed the symmetry by taking third spot both times with his Vectra.

The British works contingent found itself confined to the third row at best for both races, with Honda's James Thompson leading the charge for round one (5th) and Anthony Reid doing likewise for round two (4th). Vauxhall's new signing, Jason Plato, could only manage seventh and eighth respectively.

Matt Neal, the reigning Michelin Cup champion, was the fastest Independent runner in his Nissan Primera, and will line-up fourth on the grid for round one and sixth for round two. Series rookie Alan Morrison claimed the Class B pole position for both races in his Peugeot 306.

Leading qualifying times - BTCC Rd.1 - Brands Hatch.

1. Alain Menu Ford Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Zetec 1min 27.902secs
2. Rickard Rydell Ford Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Zetec 1min 28.073secs
3. Yvan Muller Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra 1min 28.210secs
4. Matt Neal* Team Dynamics Nissan Primera GT 1min 28.466secs
5. James Thompson Redstone Team Honda Honda Accord 1min 28.516secs
6. Anthony Reid Ford Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Zetec 1min 28.664secs
7. Jason Plato Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra 1min 28.767secs
8. Gabriele Tarquini Redstone Team Honda Honda Accord 1min 28.776secs
9. Tom Kristensen Redstone Team Honda Honda Accord 1min29.256secs
10. Vincent Radermecker Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra 1min 29.568secs

Leading qualifying times- BTCC Rd.2 - Brands Hatch

1. Alain Menu Ford Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Zetec 1min 27.655secs
2. Rickard Rydell Ford Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Zetec 1min 27.793secs
3. Yvan Muller Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra 1min 27.896secs
4. Anthony Reid Ford Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Zetec 1min 28.018secs
5. Tom Kristensen Redstone Team Honda Honda Accord 1min 28.057secs
6. Matt Neal* Team Dynamics Nissan Primera GT 1min 28.067secs
7. James Thompson Redstone Team Honda Honda Accord 1min 28.091secs
8. Jason Plato Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra 1min 28.436secs
9. Gabriele Tarquini Redstone Team Honda Honda Accord 1min 28.607secs
10. Vincent Radermecker Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra 1min 29.191secs

[* denotes Michelin Cup for Independents driver ]