Free practice 1: Plato leads the way

On a damp but drying track, and in a bitterly cold wind, Plato lapped his factory Vauxhall Astra Coupe around the Kent venue's Indy circuit in 51.949s, 0.398secs ahead of the Team Egg Sport car of Phil Bennett.

Matt Neal was the quickest of the Peugeot 406 Coupes in third, 0.681secs off Plato's time.

"I'm quite surprised at that," said Neal. "Because it was damp, and we're using a harder control tyre this year, it takes a lot of time to get the heat in the tyres."

Team mate Steve Soper was fourth, over a second off the pace, but ahead of the works Vauxhall of Yvan Muller and the second Egg car of James Thompson. Dan Eaves spent much of the session in the pits as his 406 refused to refire.

Dave Pinkney took to the circuit briefly in his JSM-run Alfa Romeo 147, but failed to complete a flying lap. The ABG-run Lexus IS200 is not expected to run today.

A second 45-minute session starts at midday (BST), and Autosport.com will carry updates and news as the day progresses.


1 Jason Plato, works Vauxhall Astra Coupe, 51.949s
2 Phil Bennett, Egg Vauxhall Astra Coupe, 52.347s
3 Matt Neal, works Peugeot 406 Coupe, 52.630s
4 Steve Soper, works Peugeot 406 Coupe, 53.077s
5 Yvan Muller, works Vauxhall Astra Coupe, 53.540s
6 James Thompson, Egg Vauxhall Astra Coupe, 54.154s
7 Dan Eaves, works Peugeot 406 Coupe, 57.619s
8 Dave Pinkey, JSM Alfa Romeo 147, no time