Free practice: No cigar for Priaulx

Priaulx, running 60kg lighter than the other three success ballast-laden, Triple Eight-run Vauxhall Astra Coupes, was forced to sit out the last few minutes after causing a red flag when his left front tyre exploded at Druids and sent him crashing into the barriers.

Damage to the Egg Sport Vauxhall, which went in front-end first, was relatively light, and Priaulx will be out for qualifying this afternoon in a bid for a fairytale BTCC debut pole.

"The car's a pleasure to drive," said the Formula 3 ace, who is subbing for the banned Phil Bennett. "It's very well balanced and I'm really enjoying it. The crash was caused when I damaged the tyre on the exit of the Knicker Brook chicane. But it was a very soft impact, although it's enough to keep the boys busy."

Priaulx (constantly referred to as 'Pirro' by one of the circuit commentators - so he may lose time changing over to Frank Biela halfway through tomorrow's races) is having to adjust his driving style from the high-grip F3 machines: "I've just got to be careful that I don't carry too much speed into the corners, because that's what I'm used to."

Plato had new BF Goodrich slicks bolted on to the front of his works Astra with a few minutes to go to demolish Priaulx's time by 0.3 seconds. "We're just working on our programme," he said. "It's quite tricky to get the front and rear tyre temperatures to come in at the same time, but we're getting there."

Talking of Priaulx's performance, Plato said: "He's a quality driver, he's not under pressure and he's going to do a good job." The difference made by success ballast is clear though, Priaulx regularly 1mph faster than the other Astras through the speed traps, and also making up time through the corners.

Yvan Muller and James Thompson ended up third and fourth, while Steve Soper won the battle of the Peugeots to take fifth from Dan Eaves.

Thomas Erdos was next, although the Brazilian sat out most of the sessions. The throttle body failed on the Lexus on the first lap of the opening session and he only made it down the hill to the Fosters loop. In the second period he had to run in new brake discs and pads, then lost most of the remainder of the session to the red flag.

The JSM Alfa 147s of Tim Harvey (who missed the second session) and seasonal debutant Mark Blair brought up the rear.

Roger Moen (HTML Peugeot) headed the Production times from Gavin Pyper (GA Janspeed Alfa) and some old bloke called Tiff Needell who has been drafted into the Barwell Honda team and did a very respectable job. By contrast, title battlers Simon Harrison and James Kaye languished in 12th and 13th respectively.



Jason Plato (Vauxhall Astra Coupe) 1m28.225s
Andy Priaulx (Egg Sport Vauxhall Astra Coupe) 1m28.549s
Yvan Muller (Vauxhall Astra Coupe) 1m28.636s
James Thompson (Egg Sport Vauxhall Astra Coupe) 1m28.736s
Steve Soper (Peugeot 406 Coupe) 1m29.409s
Dan Eaves (Peugeot 406 Coupe) 1m29.939s
Thomas Erdos (TMSR Lexus IS200) 1m30.462s
Tim Harvey (JSM Alfa Romeo 147) 1m30.537s
Mark Blair (JSM Alfa Romeo 147) 1m30.866
Doc Shepherd (Austin A40) 1m55.684s

Roger Moen (HTML Peugeot 306) 1m32.584s
Gavin Pyper (GA Janspeed Alfa Romeo 156) 1m33.725s
Tiff Needell (Barwell Honda Accord) 1m34.120s
Gareth Howell (GR Ford Focus) 1m34.225s
Mat Jackson (GR Ford Focus) 1m34.663s
Paul O'Neill (Techspeed Peugeot 306) 1m34.665s