YORK driver James Thompson faces a test of his nerves tomorrow.

He is back in action the British Touring Car Championship after being out of action since suffering concussion in a 120mph crash at the opening meeting of the season at Brands Hatch last month.

But the prospect of playing catch-up on the rest could not start at a trickier course - Knockill, near Dunfermline.

He had a bad crash at the Scottish track there three years ago but knows he cannot afford to hold anything back in his Honda after missing four rounds of the championship.

Thompson, who is in 11th place in the saloon car championship with only five points, was second fastest in testing yesterday ahead of this afternoon's qualifying session for tomorrow's seventh and eighth rounds.

He was just behind his Honda Accord team colleague Gabriele Tarquini in yesterday's testing.

The Honda Accord team need a good show tomorrow as they trail Ford and Vauxhall in the manfuacturers' championship.

The one highlight for the Accords so far this season has been Tarquini being second at Donington Park in the fourth round.

The seventh round tomorrow is the Sprint Race over 20 laps, a distance of 26 miles. The eighth round is the 40 lap (52 mile) Feature Race.

Times at yesterday's testing: 1 G Tarquini (Italy, Honda) 52.404sec; 2 J Thompson (York, Honda) 52.545; 3 T Kristensen (Denmark, Honda) 52.595; 4 M Neal (GB, Nissan) 52.635; 5 R Rydell (Sweden, Ford) 52.681; 6 V Radermecker (Belgium, Vauxhall) 52.809.