FANS of the British Touring Car Championship had the long drive to Norfolk to look forward to this weekend as the series moves to Snetterton.

However, it's unlikely Sunderland's Warren Hughes will mind that two rounds closer to home are out of the way.

The Croft circuit in North Yorkshire has never been that kind and the MG ace suffered more appalling luck there three weeks ago.

However, although being beaten by his team mate will have hurt at the time, Hughes will know veteran Anthony Reid's win at Croft is evidence the West Surrey Racing team have been making the right kind of progress.

Snetterton should also suit the MG while Brands Hatch, where the team took a victory last year, is to come on the Bank Holiday weekend at the end of the month.

Much like 2002, it could be there is the potential for the team to end the season on a high.

l NEW regulations introduced this year ban team orders in Formula One - so it will be interesting to see what happens in Hungary in three weeks' time.

The drivers' championship is the closest it has been for years, with Michael Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen all with a realistic chance of clinching the crown.

In the wake of Ferrari's contrived result in Austria last year, both Williams and McLaren won plaudits for allowing their two drivers to race each other, regardless of their standing in the points table. But, with so much at stake, will that continue to be the case? Watch very carefully.

It seems more likely every day the name Nelson Piquet will be returning to F1.

South African Alan van de Merwe will almost certainly take the British F3 crown drivers' crown this year. However, Nelson Piquet Jnr became the youngest driver to take a victory in the series at Knockhill in May and the 17-year-old - who won again at Rockingham last weekend - has already been spotted chatting with F1 team supremo, Sir Frank Williams.

If Montoya is snapped up by McLaren for 2005, maybe another South American will take his place?