It was back to the usual suspects at the front in the second BTCC practice session here at Brands Hatch.
Colin Turkington took fastest time, (48.490) showing he’s not having any issues adjusting to a front wheel drive car. Just behind in second was Andy Priaulx, another driver that there may have been doubts on how quickly he’d learn the way the WSR BMW handles. Very quickly is the answer as his time of 49.006 put him just over half a second behind Turkington.
Aron Smith and Jason Plato made it 3 BMR VW’s in the top four, only a few thousandths of a second splitting them. Sam Tordoff had a much better session with fifth place. Adam Morgan was another driver having a better time during the second session resuming his usual position somewhere in thr top ten taking sixth place. Seventh was Jack Goff the best of the MG’s and finally able to put some laps in. Goff’s team mate, former champion Jordan was down in thirteenth, missing the first session appearing to have harmed his pace.
Shedden was the fastest Honda in eighth but could well have more time in reserve as he sound confident when interviewed over the circuit PA. Ninth was Rob Austin, taking the position his Exocet Alcosense team mate Hunter Abbott filled in the first session. Abbott managed twelfth. Tenth was Matt Neal in the second Honda Yuasa Racing Civic Type R just ahead of Rob Collard.
The session started on a damp drying circuit much as the first session had done. Rain had fallen during the time between sessions but cleared up before the BTCC cars returned to the track. The times were much closer this time with the entire top seventeen being separated by less than a second.
Josh Cook couldn’t repeat his excellent first session and didn’t set a time. Newsham also dropped down the order to fourteenth. Tom Ingram couldn’t get close to his earlier position and ended up just fifteenth. Warren Scott didn’t fare as well as his team’s drivers ending the session in the tyre wall. He had already had a couple of near misses. He was seventeenth in the standings.
Full times are available from TSL Timing. By Marc Waller
