Northern Ireland's Colin Turkington has taken pole position for today's opening round of the 2007 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent.

Portadown-based Turkington, driving a Team RAC BMW 320si E90, set pole position in a time of 49.532s.

Second fastest, just 0.016s slower, was the SEAT of Jason Plato (Oxford) in 49.548s and third Plato’s team-mate Darren Turner (Leamington-Spa) in 49.652s. Turner had to rely on his time set earlier in the session after he crashed out.

Reigning champion Matt Neal (Droitwich) was ninth fastest of the 26 runners in his Team Halfords squad's new Honda Civic in a time of 49.899s.