TOMMY Hill is determined to increase his slender seven points advantage in the chase for the MCE Insurance British Superbike crown which enters the first of three rounds of the Showdown for the title at Donington Park.

The rider for the Guisborough-based Swan Yamaha team was fastest in both of the free practice sessions as he prepared for the first two of the seven races which will decide the outcome of the country's premier crown.

"It feels good to be in our strong position but now it is all about being consistent and staying ahead of the other Title Fighters," said Hill who best lap came in 1m 29.151secs, all but matching the lap record set by World Superbike series leader Carlos Checa in March.

Hill ran a little over a second faster than his team-mate and fellow Title Fighter Michael Laverty during the morning session with the Ulsterman losing any chance of reducing the deficit after sliding off without injury at Craner Curves.

Laverty was again well on the pace in the faster afternoon session, running second for much of the time to Hill who took over two seconds off his best lap times with a scorching lap at an average speed of 100.44mph.

* Darlington rally driver Guy Wilks has vowed to return Peugeot UK to the top in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

Wilks started the Canon Mecsek Rallye in Hungary in seventh position in the standings after retiring from last month's Barum Czech Rally Zlin - where he had been a contender for victory until a puncture dropped him back.

"The positive thing for me and Phil (Pugh), my co-driver, is that we were right up there in Zlin and we know we've got the speed to match and beat the competition. Things will turn around and we'll get team Peugeot UK back on top."

Wilks is a newcomer to the Pecs-based event, which got underway with a prologue stage yesterday afternoon.