Andy Priaulx put in a storming last lap to set the fastest time in the opening British Touring Car Championship practice session at Snetterton.
Priaulx, who turns 41 today, had been largely anonymous during the 40-minute session but posted a 1:56.648s in the final minute to usurp Team BMR’s Jason Plato.
Plato led the session from the first round of competitive lap times, charting a 1:57.040s – quicker than Mat Jackson’s benchmark time from testing last month – in the first 15 minutes, before bettering that effort with a 1:56.703s.
That time looked as though it would top the session, until West Surrey Racing man Priaulx stole in with his best time.
Matt Neal ended the session third fastest, just 0.034s shy of Plato, with Aron Smith and Jack Goff completing the top five.
Mat Jackson impressed in Motorbase’s first competitive session of the season, setting a 1:56.955s for the sixth fastest time, ahead of championship leader Gordon Shedden.
Colin Turkington was eighth, ahead of Andrew Jordan – whose MG sports a special chrome livery this weekend to celebrate the continuation of his deal with Pirtek – while Rob Collard completed the top ten.
Newcomer Barry Horne, who was announced as a late replacement for Alex Martin this morning, finished the session in 29th.
Session results
| POS | NO | CL | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 111 | C | Andy PRIAULX |  |
Team IHG Rewards Club | BMW 125i M Sport | 14 | 1:56.648 | 0.000 |
| 2 | 99 | Jason PLATO | |
Team BMR | Volkswagen CC | 12 | 1:56.703 | 0.055 | |
| 3 | 25 | M | Matt NEAL | |
Honda Yuasa Racing | Honda Civic Type R | 13 | 1:56.737 | 0.089 |
| 4 | 40 | Árón SMITH |  |
Team BMR | Volkswagen CC | 14 | 1:56.841 | 0.193 | |
| 5 | 31 | M | Jack GOFF | |
MG 888 Racing | MG 6GT | 16 | 1:56.944 | 0.296 |
| 6 | 4 | Mat JACKSON | |
Motorbase Performance | Ford Focus | 16 | 1:56.955 | 0.307 | |
| 7 | 52 | M | Gordon SHEDDEN | |
Honda Yuasa Racing | Honda Civic Type R | 13 | 1:57.005 | 0.357 |
| 8 | 1 | Colin TURKINGTON | |
Team BMR | Volkswagen CC | 14 | 1:57.125 | 0.477 | |
| 9 | 77 | M | Andrew JORDAN | |
MG 888 Racing | MG 6GT | 15 | 1:57.139 | 0.491 |
| 10 | 6 | C | Rob COLLARD | |
Team JCT600 with GardX | BMW 125i M Sport | 14 | 1:57.171 | 0.523 |
| 11 | 21 | Mike BUSHELL | |
AmD Tuning.com | Ford Focus | 15 | 1:57.305 | 0.657 | |
| 12 | 33 | Adam MORGAN | |
WIX Racing | Mercedes Benz A-Class | 15 | 1:57.368 | 0.720 | |
| 13 | 54 | Hunter ABBOTT | |
Exocet AlcoSense | Audi A4 | 15 | 1:57.383 | 0.735 | |
| 14 | 66 | Josh COOK | |
Power Maxed Racing | Chevrolet Cruze | 15 | 1:57.397 | 0.749 | |
| 15 | 17 | Dave NEWSHAM | |
Power Maxed Racing | Chevrolet Cruze | 15 | 1:57.516 | 0.868 | |
| 16 | 30 | Martin DEPPER | |
Eurotech Racing | Honda Civic | 16 | 1:57.558 | 0.910 | |
| 17 | 80 | Tom INGRAM | |
Speedworks Motorsport | Toyota Avensis | 10 | 1:57.697 | 1.049 | |
| 18 | 16 | Aiden MOFFAT | |
Laser Tools Racing | Mercedes Benz A-Class | 14 | 1:57.712 | 1.064 | |
| 19 | 55 | Jeff SMITH | |
Eurotech Racing | Honda Civic | 14 | 1:57.720 | 1.072 | |
| 20 | 39 | Warren SCOTT | |
Team BMR | Volkswagen CC | 15 | 1:58.035 | 1.387 | |
| 21 | 7 | C | Sam TORDOFF | |
Team JCT600 with GardX | BMW 125i M Sport | 17 | 1:58.728 | 2.080 |
| 22 | 28 | G | Nic HAMILTON | |
AmD Tuning.com | Audi S3 | 13 | 1:59.041 | 2.393 |
| 23 | 22 | Derek PALMER Jr | |
Support Our Paras Racing | Infiniti Q50 | 14 | 1:59.309 | 2.661 | |
| 24 | 44 | James COLE | |
Motorbase Performance | Ford Focus | 12 | 1:59.437 | 2.789 | |
| 25 | 95 | Stewart LINES | |
Houseman Racing | Toyota Avensis | 16 | 1:59.587 | 2.939 | |
| 26 | 67 | Robb HOLLAND |  |
Handy Motorsport | Toyota Avensis | 14 | 1:59.919 | 3.271 | |
| 27 | 101 | Rob AUSTIN | |
Exocet AlcoSense | Audi A4 | 12 | 2:00.735 | 4.087 | |
| 28 | 23 | Kieran GALLAGHER | |
RCIB Insurance Racing | Toyota Avensis | 6 | 2:03.199 | 6.551 | |
| 29 | 114 | Barry HORNE | |
Dextra Racing | Ford Focus | 15 | 2:03.412 | 6.764 | |