Knockhill BTCC: Gordon Shedden dominates practice on home soil

The Scot, who works at the track, was the only driver to break the 52-second barrier en route to topping the second practice session on Saturday.

Shedden left it until the final 10 minutes of FP2 to record two laps good enough for top spot, first a 51.995s to depose Jeff Smith and then a 51.898s to ram home his advantage.

Smith, who scored his first BTCC podium at Knockhill in 2012, finished a shock second in his older-specification Eurotech Honda Civic - and also caused the session's only stoppage when he beached in the red flag the lap after setting his best time, a 52.051s.

Behind Smith, who rejoined the fray before the session's end, came the first of the WSR BMW 125i M Sports in the hands of Sam Tordoff, 0.270s back from Shedden.

Tordoff's team-mates Andy Priaulx and Rob Collard were both within half a second of the pacesetter, though both were behind the Motorbase Ford Focus of Mat Jackson while Andrew Jordan's MG split Priaulx and Collard in sixth.

Jackson predicted a stronger Knockhill for Motorbase after a quiet return at Snetterton and his practice form suggests that will be the case, after the Ford dealer wound up third-fastest in FP1.

He was beaten only by the Hondas, with the Type-R - visibly the most comfortable through the spectacular chicane - translating its poise into laptime as Shedden led a Honda one-two in FP1.

The 2012 champion and team-mate Matt Neal were separated by just 0.005s.

The Team BMR Volkswagen CCs did not challenge the top 10 in the opening session, though championship leader Jason Plato improved in FP2.

Plato wound up ninth, 0.550s slower than Shedden with 75kgs of ballast, while the 66kgs-laden Colin Turkington was only 16th.

PRACTICE ONE TIMES:

PRACTICE TWO TIMES: