AUSTRALIAN newcomer Hyla Breese had a frustrating debut for Team B&Q Jet York City Racing at Croft at the weekend.

Engine trouble in practice meant Breese, who has just replaced the team's test and development driver, Peter Cate, had to sit out yesterday's British Touring Car Championship races.

That left Jim Edwards junior to fly the flag for York City chairman John Batchelor's team - and he managed to maintain the team's second spot in the Production Team Championship.

Edwards finished sixth in class in the opening sprint race despite having two massive dents in both doors as a result of a clash of cars near the opening bend of the 2.1mile circuit.

In between races, the doors of Breese's car were switched to Edwards' Honda and he finished fourth in the feature race to maintain his third spot in the Production Drivers Championship with 67 points. The leader is James Kaye, who has 93 points, followed by Spencer Marsh on 72.

Batchelor's team maintained second their position in the Teams Championship with 52 points - just eight adrift of Beacon Motorsport.

York City manager Terry Dolan also got a circuit of the Croft track as he went round in the safety car at the head of the field before the start of the Touring Car feature race.

Dolan and the City squad were at the Darlington track as Batchelor's guests and a travelling contingent of City fans took the opportunity to visit the racing and football teams at the chairman's trackside trailer.

Updated: 11:50 Monday, July 15, 2002