Peugeot team boss Vic Lee is confident his squad are beginning to turn the corner after a torrid start to their www.theaa.com British Touring Car Championship season.

The Peugeot 406 coupes of Steve Soper and Dan Eaves were expected to provide the stiffest test to the four Oxfordshire-built Vauxhalls, but a late start to development meant they were trumped by Burford racer Tim Harvey's Alfa Romeo for the first non-Astra podium at Oulton Park.

However, Lee is convinced his cars are on the verge of making a significant breakthrough after coming closer than ever to the top four in qualifying at Silverstone.

There were signs of improved race speed as well with Eaves harrying the all-conquering Vauxhalls in the opening laps of the sprint race and Soper recovering from several incidents to take sixth in the feature.

Lee said: "Basically, it was a new project for us and there were a lot of hiccups along the way. We were two months late coming out with the car.

"We've been working really hard for the past three or four weeks and we are creeping up slowly. We are nearly there and we know where the problem is."