Qualifying: Thommo on top
Reigning British Touring Car Championship title holder James Thompson took his fourth pole position of the season in qualifying for race one at Croft on Sunday
Thompson recorded his pole-winning effort of 1m26.446s on his second flying lap, but had an anxious wait as the Honda Civic Type-Rs made late improvements. Alan Morrison initially took the fight to the Vauxhall driver, but he was demoted to third when Matt Neal came within 0.137s of displacing Thommo in the final minutes.
Tom Chilton compounded Honda's strong showing by stealing fourth - his best performance of the season - on his last flying lap. Paul O'Neill took fifth, leaving championship leader Yvan Muller back in sixth in his success ballast-heavy Astra.
Anthony Reid led the MG charge in seventh, one place ahead of Warren Hughes. Rob Collard was the top Independent runner in ninth. Dan Eaves had his most competitive session of the year so far to take 11th, but new VLR Peugeot team-mate Daniel Buxton was forced to skip qualifying after an oil pump failed. He will start from the back of the grid alongside Proton's Phil Bennett, who had his times disallowed for failing a ride-height check.
Michael Bentwood claimed Production class pole from Tom Boardman's Peugeot 307. Class newboys Jason Hughes and Richard Marsh round out the field.
James Thompson Vauxhall 1m26.446s
Matt Neal Honda 1m26.583s
Alan Morrison Honda 1m26.655s
Tom Chilton Honda 1m26.844s
Paul O'Neill Vauxhall 1m26.932s
Yvan Muller Vauxhall 1m26.970s
BTCC: Brands Hatch Race 3 in 60 seconds
BTCC: Brands Hatch Race 2 in 80 seconds
BTCC: Brands Hatch Race 1 in 80 seconds
BTCC: Thruxton Race 3 in 90 seconds
BTCC: Thruxton Race 2 in 75 seconds
The outright tin-top wins achieved by a forgotten tin-top great
Already established as a formidable force in the British Saloon Car Championship, the Triumph Dolomite became a legend in 1977 when Tony Dron's Broadspeed machine frequently embarrassed the mighty Capris
Five key plotlines to follow in the 2021 BTCC
It’s been a busy silly season in the BTCC since the chequered flag fell to end the 2020 campaign last November. While last year’s top two have stayed put, there’s plenty of talking points elsewhere, which should result in another fascinating year of tin-top action
The giantkilling 'dad and lad' operation taking on the BTCC's best
The Lancashire squad of Ciceley Motorsport has been a BTCC race winner for several years with Adam Morgan and Mercedes. But the switch to WSR-built BMWs and addition of Tom Chilton as a true barometer for Morgan should see the team step up into title contention
How a returning champion is feeling at home again in the BTCC
After topping the times at the end of British Touring Car Championship pre-season testing, it feels like Gordon Shedden has never been away. But after plenty of changes behind the scenes, the three-time champion is bedding himself in to pick up where he left off
Why a BTCC legend remains defiant at '97 not out'
After a year of enforced absence from the British Touring Car Championship grid, Jason Plato is back and hungrier than ever. Despite stellar opposition and some familiar challenges, the two-time champion still has his eyes focused on the biggest prizes
How Ingram's clean slate can end his BTCC title wait
After seven years together, Tom Ingram and Speedworks Motorsport have amicably split and gone down separate paths for the 2021 BTCC season. With engineer Spencer Aldridge joining him at the Excelr8 Motorsport Hyundai squad, Ingram is confident he can challenge for titles from the off
How the unlikely Capri-slaying Dolomite triumphed against adversary
The Dolomite Sprint was a potent giantkilling weapon during the 1970s in the British Saloon Car Championship, now known as the BTCC. Tin-top legend Andy Rouse explains how it became such a force
The rollercoaster ride of West Surrey Racing's 40 years
It’s four decades since one of UK motorsport’s most successful teams made its debut at Silverstone in British Formula 3. Now it’s top dog in the BTCC, time to blow out some candles with boss Dick Bennetts
