Rob Austin's NGTC Audi blitzes second Rockingham British Touring Car practice session
Rob Austin dominated the second free British Touring Car practice session at Rockingham this afternoon
The NGTC Audi driver set times of 1m24.109s and 1m23.793s in the first 15 minutes of the session to usurp early pacesetter James Nash (Triple Eight Vauxhall Vectra) by over a second.
Several improvements for other runners brought that gap down, but even a last-minute run by reigning champion Jason Plato's works Chevrolet Cruze fell almost half a second short of Austin's mark.
Nash was also one to find time in the closing stages to end up third, while points leader Gordon Shedden was fourth in his Honda Racing Civic.
First practice pacesetter Frank Wrathall (Dynojet Toyota Avensis) was just behind, making it two controversial NGTC cars in the top five.
Paul O'Neill showed improved form in Tech-Speed's Cruze with sixth, while title contender Matt Neal was eighth.
Top Ford Focus was the Arena Motorsport car of Tom Onslow-Cole in ninth, with BTCC newcomer Michael Caine 17th in his Motorbase example.
Pos Driver Team/Car Time Gap 1. Rob Austin Rob Austin Audi 1m23.793s 2. Jason Plato Chevrolet 1m24.265s + 0.472s 3. James Nash Triple 8 Vauxhall 1m24.333s + 0.540s 4. Gordon Shedden Honda 1m24.517s + 0.724s 5. Frank Wrathall Dynojet Toyota 1m24.678s + 0.885s 6. Paul O'Neill Tech-Speed Chevrolet 1m24.817s + 1.024s 7. Dave Newsham Special Tuning SEAT 1m25.034s + 1.241s 8. Matt Neal Honda 1m25.044s + 1.251s 9. Tom Onslow-Cole Arena Ford 1m25.053s + 1.260s 10. Tom Boardman Special Tuning SEAT 1m25.055s + 1.262s 11. Andy Neate Arena Ford 1m25.082s + 1.289s 12. Alex MacDowall Chevrolet 1m25.107s + 1.314s 13. Mat Jackson Motorbase Ford 1m25.118s + 1.325s 14. Andrew Jordan Eurotech Vauxhall 1m25.192s + 1.399s 15. Tom Chilton Arena Ford 1m25.432s + 1.639s 16. Nick Foster WSR BMW 1m25.483s + 1.690s 17. Michael Caine Motorbase Ford 1m25.501s + 1.708s 18. Rob Collard WSR BMW 1m25.609s + 1.816s 19. Martin Byford AmD Volkswagen 1m25.758s + 1.965s 20. John George Tech-Speed Chevrolet 1m25.785s + 1.992s 21. Daniel Welch Welch Proton 1m25.807s + 2.014s 22. Jeff Smith Eurotech Vauxhall 1m26.043s + 2.250s 23. Tony Gilham Geoff Steel BMW 1m26.083s + 2.290s 24. Liam Griffin Motorbase Ford 1m27.140s + 3.347s 25. Chris James ES Chevrolet 1m28.223s + 4.430s
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