THE UK's premier saloon car series roars off the grid at Croft Circuit near Darlington this weekend.

Two rounds of the British Touring Car Championship have been held at the track since it was upgraded in the late 1990s and, although the weather has not always been kind, the long straights and technical in-field have ensured some exciting racing.

Based on road-going marques, the cars are tough enough to allow robust driving - and this year has seen the field closer than ever.

New Touring and Production classes were introduced at the beginning of the year, throwing up-and-coming drivers up against more seasoned campaigners.

For example, ex-British GT man and 1992 Touring Car champion Tim Harvey is back this year, battling in an ex-works Peugeot 406 against works Vauxhall die-hards, Yvan Muller and York-born James Thompson.

But there's fresh talent too, including Sunderland's Warren Hughes in the works MG, not to mention Barwell Motorsport's teenage sensation, Tom Chilton, who has already become the youngest driver to take a championship podium position.

Former World Superbikes rider Aaron Slight has also made the switch to four wheels with some success while Harrogate-based veteran James Kaye's Honda has also performed well.

Nevertheless, Matt Neal leads the series in his Astra, with Vauxhall's Thompson just a point behind.

''The series is extremely competitive this season and there's no quarter given anywhere, whether that be by the other Vauxhall drivers or the new manufacturers to the series,'' says Thompson. ''MG is providing probably the greatest threat at the moment, with Warren Hughes and Anthony Reid - although you can't discount anyone.''

The race weekend also includes rounds of the Legends Cars Championships, the Formula Ford Zetec Championships, the Michelin Porsche Cup, the Formula Renault Championship and the Elf Clio UK Cup.

The provisional programme for what promises to be a feast of entertainment is as follows:

SATURDAY: 9.30am: Legends qualifying; 9.55am: Touring Cars free practice; 10.50am: Formula Ford Zetec qualifying; 11.35am: Porsche Cup qualifying; 12.10pm: Touring Cars free practice; 1.50pm: Formula Renault qualifying; 2.30pm: Elf Clio qualifying; 3.10pm: Touring Cars qualifying; 4.10pm: Ford Zetec race; 4.55pm: Porsche Cup race; 5.35pm: Legends race, heat one.

SUNDAY: 10.30am: Pit lane walkabout; 12.00 noon: Touring Car Sprint Race; 12.50pm: Formula Renault race; 1.40pm: Legends race, heat two; 2.05pm Porsche Cup race; 2.55pm: Elf Clio race; 3.50pm: Touring Car feature race; 4.55pm Formula Ford Zetec race; 5.35pm: Legends final.