TWO Hampshire drivers will be looking to impress on home soil when Thruxton hosts Britain's biggest motor-racing series - the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship on Sunday, June 4.

Thruxton is the championship's fastest circuit in Britain - with top speeds nudging 150mph - and so the BTCC's annual visit to the airfield venue is always a highlight.

Reigning champion Matt Neal in his Team Halfords Honda will arrive at Thruxton leading the current standing.

But chasing him will be the likes of SEAT's Jason Plato, Team RAC's Colin Turkington and Vauxhall's rising star Tom Chilton. Also among the front-runners will be Hook-based Robert Collard, in his Team RAC MG, and Southampton's James Kaye, in Swindon team Synchro Motorsport's Honda Civic.

A large crowd is expected and the British Automobile Racing Club has revealed that pre-event ticket sales are significantly up. Part of that is down to the increased television coverage the BTCC now receives. All ten of 2006's championship's race meetings, including Thruxton, are shown live on ITV1.

Race day admission for children aged 15 and under is FREE and adults can still book tickets in advance at the discounted price of £20 via www.barc.net or the ticket hotline (01264 882200).

On race day, the BTCC will be in action three times. And there will be a further seven races from supporting series put on by BMW, Porsche, Renault and SEAT.

"Thruxton is always one of the BTCC's most exciting race meetings," enthused BTCC series director Alan Gow. The circuit's high speeds make it a fearsome place for the drivers and its layout is a classic. For the spectators, the viewing areas are second to none. Thruxton is a terrifically exciting sporting venue."