Jordan tops first Brands session
Andrew Jordan topped the first practice session of the British Touring Car Championship season opener at Brands Hatch this morning
The Eurotech Racing Vauxhall Vectra driver, who also led the Silverstone pre-season test, attacked the session early and set a best time of 48.798s. That left the TOCA-engined machine just over one tenth slower than Jason Plato's 2010 pole, but a third of a second quicker than Jordan's own qualifying effort last year.
Plato waited before going for a time, his 48.829s lap being good enough for second in his new RML-run Chevrolet Cruze.
Gordon Shedden made it two turbo-engined S2000 machines in the top three with his Honda Racing Civic, but he then crashed at Paddock Hill Bend, bringing the session to a premature close.
Tom Boardman, who is now running a VAG NGTC unit in his Special Tuning SEAT Leon, was fourth, just ahead of Shedden's team-mate Matt Neal.
Arena Motorsport's new Ford Focus rounded out the top six, with Tom Chilton managing 48.995s. Less than one second covered the top 15.
The new Next Generation Touring Cars struggled. Tony Hughes managed some medium-paced laps in the Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Avensis, but Frank Wrathall's Dynojet version only completed one out-lap. The Rob Austin Racing Audi of David Pinkney did not make it out on track.
Pos Driver Team/Car Time Gap 1. Andrew Jordan Eurotech Vauxhall 48.798s 2. Jason Plato Chevrolet 48.829s + 0.031s 3. Gordon Shedden Honda 48.889s + 0.091s 4. Tom Boardman Special Tuning SEAT 48.917s + 0.119s 5. Matt Neal Honda 48.937s + 0.139s 6. Tom Chilton Arena Ford 48.995s + 0.197s 7. Alex MacDowall Chevrolet 49.071s + 0.273s 8. Jeff Smith Eurotech Vauxhall 49.115s + 0.317s 9. Paul O'Neill Tech-Speed Chevrolet 49.134s + 0.336s 10. James Nash Triple 8 Vauxhall 49.254s + 0.456s 11. Rob Collard WSR BMW 49.355s + 0.557s 12. Mat Jackson Motorbase Ford 49.375s + 0.577s 13. Andy Neate Arena Ford 49.614s + 0.816s 14. Tony Gilham Triple 8 Vauxhall 49.625s + 0.827s 15. Tom Onslow-Cole AmD Volkswagen 49.681s + 0.883s 16. Liam Griffin Motorbase Ford 49.844s + 1.046s 17. Nick Foster WSR BMW 50.247s + 1.449s 18. John George Tech-Speed Chevrolet 50.574s + 1.776s 19. Chris James ES Chevrolet 50.940s + 2.142s 20. Dave Newsham Geoff Steel BMW 51.404s + 2.606s 21. Tony Hughes Speedworks Toyota 53.835s + 5.037s 22. Frank Wrathall Dynojet Toyota
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