Gordon Shedden set the pace in both of this morning’s British Touring Car Championship free practice sessions at Thruxton, lapping the high-speed Hampshire circuit faster than team-mate Matt Neal in the first session and Jason Plato in the second.
The Scot was on fire in the first session of the day, lapping more than a second faster than second-placed Neal. He followed this up with an equally impressive second session, where he was an impressive 1.063 seconds quicker than second-placed Plato.
Palto had been third fastest in the earlier session, once again demonstrating that despite the team’s lack of data with the new MG6 car they are capable of running at the very front. There were, however, once again problems for Andy Neate in the second MG – the 37 year-old only completed five troubled laps in the first session and was 19th quickest in the second, some 4.8 seconds off the pace.
Andrew Jordan was fifth fastest (improving to fourth in FP2) followed by Pirtek team-mate Jeff Smith (sixth also in FP2). Adam Morgan had an impressive opening practice session, setting the seventh fastest time. However a problem in second practice meant that he could only manage 16th quickest before his car experienced technical issues.
Dave Newsham continued his strong start to the season by setting the eighth quickest time in the morning, followed by 5th fastest in practice two. Mat Jackson was ninth and seventh in the two session respectively, whilst Lea Wood went well in the wet conditions to post the tenth fastest time in FP1 and 15th in FP2.
Rob Collard was the top eBay Motors driver, fourth fastest in the first session followed by ninth fastest in the second. Tom Onslow-Cole missed half of the morning’s opening session as his WSR team made changes to his car’s suspension, and as a result he was only 13th, followed by 12th in the second session.
Rob Austin was unable to participate in either session as his car’s engine is still on it’s way to the circuit from engine tuner Lehmann.