Tom Ingram started the weekend in the best shape possible topping the timesheets in the #1 EXCELR8 Hyundai. The Reigning champion setting a time only 0.039 seconds off his own record pole time of 2022.
Ingram set a 1.25.507 putting him only 0.022 seconds ahead of championship leader Ash Sutton. Sutton has matched the rest of the field in terms of wins in 2023 so far. The NAPA Racing UK driver can be relaxed with how much pace is in the car.
Bobby Thompson placed his Cupra in 3rd position showing some positive pace with a car that has been hit or miss so far this season. Thompson has a second place finish so far this season but has 10 points in the last six races.
Josh Cook continued his resurgence after topping qualifying at his favourite circuit Thruxton last time out. The One Motorsport driver was the first driver outside of 0.100 seconds behind Ingram ending the session 0.137 seconds off the pace.
Dan Cammish made it two NAPA Racing UK Ford’s inside the top five. Finishing only 0.049 seconds behind Cook, Cammish can be excited about the pace to come across the weekend.
In sixth is the first of the BMW’s in the form of Colin Turkington. Turkington placed his Team BMW car within 0.214 seconds of Ingram making the top end of the field dramatically tight with one session to go ahead of qualifying.
Ricky Collard had an encouraging session putting together another top 10 performance for the Toyota Gazoo Racing UK team. As the gap more than doubled between 1st-6th to 6th-7th the team can be happy being at the front of the next group of cars.
Dan Lloyd confirmed that there definitely is pace in the Cupra making it two inside the top 10. Lloyd was only 0.147 seconds behind Collard in what would be a tight group in the second half of the top 10.
Rory Butcher doubled down the positivity of his teammate Collard as did Lloyd with Thompson. The Scot placed his Toyota in 9th 0.022 seconds behind Lloyd.
Andrew Watson rounded out the top 10 ever adding to the compact nature of the grid behind the opening six. Despite being in 10th, Watson was only 0.231 seconds from Collard in 6th. Shaping up the rest of the weekend to be tight everywhere you look.
Session results
POS | NO | NAT | DRIVER | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
1 | 1 | Tom INGRAM | BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 | Hyundai i30 N Fastback | 14 | 1:25.507 | – | |
2 | 116 | Ashley SUTTON | NAPA Racing UK | Ford Focus ST | 16 | 1:25.529 | 0.022 | |
3 | 19 | Bobby THOMPSON | Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils | CUPRA Leon | 15 | 1:25.577 | 0.070 | |
4 | 66 | Josh COOK | One Motorsport with Starline Racing | Honda Civic Type-R | 14 | 1:25.644 | 0.137 | |
5 | 27 | Dan CAMMISH | NAPA Racing UK | Ford Focus ST | 16 | 1:25.693 | 0.186 | |
6 | 4 | Colin TURKINGTON | Team BMW | BMW 330e M Sport | 18 | 1:25.721 | 0.214 | |
7 | 37 | Ricky COLLARD | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK | Toyota Corolla GR Sport | 18 | 1:26.013 | 0.506 | |
8 | 123 | Daniel LLOYD | Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils | CUPRA Leon | 14 | 1:26.160 | 0.653 | |
9 | 6 | Rory BUTCHER | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK | Toyota Corolla GR Sport | 13 | 1:26.182 | 0.675 | |
10 | 11 | Andrew WATSON | CarStore Power Maxed Racing | Vauxhall Astra | 16 | 1:26.244 | 0.737 | |
11 | 32 | Daniel ROWBOTTOM | NAPA Racing UK | Ford Focus ST | 13 | 1:26.289 | 0.782 | |
12 | 12 | Stephen JELLEY | Team BMW | BMW 330e M Sport | 14 | 1:26.403 | 0.896 | |
13 | 42 | George GAMBLE | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK | Toyota Corolla GR Sport | 16 | 1:26.474 | 0.967 | |
14 | 40 | Árón TAYLOR-SMITH | CarStore Power Maxed Racing | Vauxhall Astra | 12 | 1:26.549 | 1.042 | |
15 | 33 | Adam MORGAN | Team BMW | BMW 330e M Sport | 11 | 1:26.656 | 1.149 | |
16 | 3 | Tom CHILTON | BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 | Hyundai i30 N Fastback | 15 | 1:26.765 | 1.258 | |
17 | 24 | Jake HILL | Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport | BMW 330e M Sport | 15 | 1:26.790 | 1.283 | |
18 | 14 | Ronan PEARSON | BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 | Hyundai i30 N Fastback | 14 | 1:26.934 | 1.427 | |
19 | 77 | Sam OSBORNE | NAPA Racing UK | Ford Focus ST | 13 | 1:27.013 | 1.506 | |
20 | 16 | Aiden MOFFAT | One Motorsport with Starline Racing | Honda Civic Type-R | 17 | 1:27.042 | 1.535 | |
21 | 88 | Mikey DOBLE | CarStore Power Maxed Racing | Vauxhall Astra | 16 | 1:27.108 | 1.601 | |
22 | 96 | Jack BUTEL | Go-Fix with Autoaid Breakdown | CUPRA Leon | 13 | 1:27.223 | 1.716 | |
23 | 17 | Dexter PATTERSON | Re.Beverages and Bartercard with Team HARD. | CUPRA Leon | 15 | 1:27.461 | 1.954 | |
24 | 70 | Will POWELL | One Motorsport with Starline Racing | Honda Civic Type-R | 13 | 1:27.466 | 1.959 | |
25 | 28 | Nicolas HAMILTON | Go-Fix with Autoaid Breakdown | CUPRA Leon | 10 | 1:28.328 | 2.821 | |
26 | 22 | Nick HALSTEAD | BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 | Hyundai i30 N Fastback | 17 | 1:28.385 | 2.878 | |
27 | 99 | Jade EDWARDS | Re.Beverages and Bartercard with Team HARD. | CUPRA Leon | 6 | 1:29.189 | 3.682 |