Vauxhall happy with qualifying display.

VX Racing operations manager Mike Nicholson said he was happy with fourth and fifth on the grid after qualifying for the opening rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch.

Taking the new Vectra into its first race meeting, Fabrizio Giovanardi was able to qualify in fourth place with team-mate Tom Chilton one place further back, as both drivers set a time within two tenths of a second of the pole-sitting BMW of Colin Turkington.

Although the car suffered some new car niggles, Nicholson said he was happy with the way the day had gone, especially as the cars ahead are those to already enjoy a proven S2000 pedigree.

"There were a few little niggles during qualifying," he said. "The car's not quite 100 per cent but it's nothing major, just enough to knock off one tenth-of-a-second.

"I think it's a very good effort to be a couple of hundredths behind the SEATS. Theirs is not a new car and this is our first real test to see where we are and we're happy."

Although Chilton - like the team - is new to S2000, Giovanardi has previous experience of the regulations from his time in the WTCC and too was quite happy with the day, even if it hadn't been perfect.

"We had some young problems, when the car is too young, but it's OK," he said. "The qualifying is not so bad. The set-up was good but I was not 100 per cent perfect. I have not got a big problem, just little ones.

"It's quite easy to see that SEAT is the big opponent that we have to fight on because they are running in World Touring Cars and they have a lot of miles on that car. We also know the potential of the BMW from WTCC."