Onslow-Cole on top again at Donington
Tom Onslow-Cole was once again the pace-setter in the second free practice session for the British Touring Car Championship round at Donington Park
The Vauxhall driver improved on his time in the morning session to lap the circuit in 1:12.104 just seven minutes in. And despite the best efforts of the chasing pack, they were unable to knock him off the top spot.
SEAT proved the 20-year-old's biggest threat as Jason Plato and Darren Turner were second and third fastest, putting their best laps in during the final five minutes of the session. Plato was just 0.172 seconds behind Onslow-Cole.
Former champion Matt Neal, who is carrying 45 kilos of success ballast by virtue of his Rockingham victory, was fourth quickest for Vauxhall with the Team Halfords Hondas of Tom Chilton and Gordon Shedden next up.
Colin Turkington was the best BMW driver as the rear-wheel drive machines seemed to be at a significant disadvantage to the front-wheel drive opposition for the first time this season.
The Team RAC driver was just ahead of the Eurotech Hondas of Andrew and Mike Jordan, who were themselves spilt by the Vauxhall of champion Fabrizio Giovanardi.
Michael Doyle managed only two installation laps in his In-Tune Racing Honda while suffering from gear selection problems. Chris Stockton, meanwhile, had more problems in the clutch department in his BTC SEAT Toledo.
Both John George and Alan Taylor spun their Honda Integras into the gravel, George putting his TH Motorsport car into the stones at Coppice and Taylor gyrating in his Robertshaw entry at McLeans a few minutes later.
Pos Driver Team Time Gap 1. Tom Onslow-Cole Vauxhall 1:12.104 2. Jason Plato SEAT 1:12.276 +0.172 3. Darren Turner SEAT 1:12.453 +0.349 4. Matt Neal Vauxhall 1:12.557 +0.453 5. Tom Chilton Honda 1:12.618 +0.514 6. Gordon Shedden Honda 1:12.619 +0.515 7. Colin Turkington BMW 1:12.708 +0.604 8. Andrew Jordan Honda 1:12.764 +0.660 9. Fabrizio Giovanardi Vauxhall 1:12.796 +0.692 10. Mike Jordan Honda 1:12.842 +0.738 11. Stephen Jelley BMW 1:13.298 +1.194 12. Mat Jackson BMW 1:13.317 +1.213 13. Adam Jones SEAT 1:13.340 +1.236 14. Matt Allison Chevrolet 1:13.435 +1.331 15. Harry Vaulkhard Chevrolet 1:13.569 +1.465 16. Steven Kane BMW 1:13.598 +1.494 17. Rob Collard BMW 1:13.673 +1.569 18. Jason Hughes Honda 1:13.759 +1.655 19. Alan Taylor Honda 1:14.278 +2.174 20. John George Honda 1:14.839 +2.735 21. Martyn Bell Vauxhall 1:14.839 +2.735 22. Erkut Kizilirmak Vauxhall 1:15.111 +3.007 23. Stuart Oliver Lexus 1:15.283 +3.179
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