James Thompson and Yvan Muller head for next month's Green Flag British Touring Car Championship finale at Donington Park with their friendly rivalry starting to show signs of strain.

The Vauxhall works team duo have turned the title chase into a two-way battle in the second half of the campaign, leaving Matt Neal, the third contender, trailing.

And there was a definite increase in the intensity of the scrap for the drivers' crown at Brands Hatch this weekend which left Thompson's 19-point advantage reduced to just four after a brace of retirements.

While the first of those was a suspension failure, the second came as a result of a Muller mistake as the Frenchman drove into Thompson while leaving the pits after his mandatory stop.

Although neither appeared willing for the aftermath to degenerate into open hostility, as Muller's ultimately unsuccessful tussle with colleague Jason Plato did last year, there was palpable tension in the air.

"There is not a problem like a fight between us," insisted Muller, who was able to drive on to sixth place following the incident in the feature race whereas Thompson's car got stuck in the gravel.

"I braked too late on cold tyres, went straight on and could not turn.

"James thought I should have let him past but I don't think so. It's my job to try my best. But I accept I made a mistake."

Thompson was careful not to introduce resentment at the end of a nightmare day for the 28-year-old York driver.

"Yvan had just pitted, tried to race me on cold tyres and hit me," said Thompson. "If that's the way it's got to be, that's it."

On a spectacular day's action at the Kent circuit, MG left Vauxhall without a win in three races as the Surrey outfit bagged two victories through Anthony Reid and Warren Hughes.

Updated: 11:54 Tuesday, August 27, 2002