THOUSANDS of motor racing fans flocked to Thruxton Circuit on Monday for an action-packed day of high octane racing.

Rounds five and six of the Green Flag British Touring Car Championship saw French racer Yvan Muller pull off a remarkable double to significantly increase his lead at the top of the standings.

Muller is now 20 points ahead of Vauxhall team mate and reigning champion James Thompson who had to settle for fourth and fifth places in the day's two races.

Salisbury's Alan Blencowe moved up to third place in the championship's production class after securing third and fourth place finishes.

The Tisbury scaffolder, in action at his local track, was delighted to be on the podium after finishing third in the fifth round of the competition.

"It was nice to have a good result in front of my home crowd and my sponsors. The team were pleased, the car ran fantastic and I was happy with the way that I drove," he told Journal Sport.

However, a poor start in the next race from third place on the grid proved costly.

"I ran wide off the circuit which caused me to drop back. I caught up with the pack, but by the time I had overtaken some of the opposition, the challenge for the podium had gone too far away."

Despite settling for fourth place, the points he accumulated helped his Barwell Motorsport lift the team cup.

"All in all it was a very good weekend," Blencowe added. "Hopefully we will be able to push harder at Silverstone in two week's time."

Another Salisbury racer enjoying a good weekend was Southern Spas proprietor Paul Maguire who turned in his best ever performance in the ELF Clio Renaultsport UK Cup.

"Everything just clicked," said the Team Griffin Racing driver who moved up to 12th in the overall standings after two successful outings at the Andover venue.