Alex MacDowall set the pace in this morning’s first practice session at Croft during a wet and windy session. MacDowall’s time of 1:33.644 put him 0.145 seconds faster than second-placed Rob Collard.
Tom Chilton had a strong session to set the third fastest time – and top turbo – after setting a fast lap late in the 40 minute session.
Click here for the full first practice times.
The early pace-setters in the session, both Honda Civic’s of Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal, ended up with the 4th and 8th fastest times respectively as the track improved and other drivers went faster.
Jason Plato was fifth fastest in his Chevrolet, six tenths slower than his younger team-mate MacDowall. Andrew Jordan was sixth, whilst Tom Boardman was seventh in his Special Tuning Racing SEAT Leon.
On his return to Team Aon, Tom Onslow-Cole could only manage the 13th fastest time, although he was still faster than one of his two team-mates Andy Neate, who could only muster 16th. Just behind Onslow-Cole was the top Triple Eight Vectra of James Nash, who struggled during the session and endured a spin into the barriers.
Rob Austin enjoyed easily his most competitive session of the year so far to set the 12th quickest time in his full-NGTC spec Audi A4. The other full-NGTC spec car driven by Frank Wrathall also enjoyed a strong session to finish in 15th, although he was seventh tenths slower than Austin.
On his return to driving duties Shaun Hollamby set the 20th fastest time out of 24 drivers, just under 4 seconds off the pace.