Reigning champion Jason Plato on top in second practice
Reigning champion Jason Plato topped the second British Touring Car free practice session at Brands Hatch on Saturday afternoon
The works Chevrolet Cruze driver made a run in the last five minutes to usurp erstwhile pacesetter Gordon Shedden with a 1m32.301s effort.
That pipped Honda Racing's Shedden by almost 0.3s, and was a similar distance ahead of his own 2010 qualifying time.
Paul O'Neill (Tech-Speed) and Alex MacDowall (RML-run works), also with a late run, made it three normally aspirated Cruzes in the top four.
Rockingham race-three winner James Nash continued his good form with fifth in Triple 8t's lead Vauxhall Vectra, while title contender Matt Neal was sixth in the second Honda Civic.
Tom Onslow-Cole (Arena) was the leading Ford in seventh, while usual Focus frontrunner Mat Jackson (Motorbase) could manage only 14th.
BTCC debutant Ollie Jackson was a fine 10th in the second Triple 8 Vectra, well ahead of the other newcomer, Chris Swanwick (Rob Austin NGTC Audi) in 27th.
Pos Driver Team/Car Time Gap 1. Jason Plato Chevrolet 1m32.301s 2. Gordon Shedden Honda 1m32.597s + 0.296s 3. Paul O'Neill Tech-Speed Chevrolet 1m32.814s + 0.513s 4. Alex MacDowall Chevrolet 1m32.907s + 0.606s 5. James Nash Triple 8 Vauxhall 1m32.999s + 0.698s 6. Matt Neal Honda 1m33.024s + 0.723s 7. Tom Onslow-Cole Arena Ford 1m33.108s + 0.807s 8. Rob Collard WSR BMW 1m33.327s + 1.026s 9. Tom Chilton Arena Ford 1m33.402s + 1.101s 10. Ollie Jackson 888 Vauxhall 1m33.443s + 1.142s 11. Frank Wrathall Dynojet Toyota 1m33.630s + 1.329s 12. Dave Newsham Special Tuning SEAT 1m33.730s + 1.429s 13. Andrew Jordan Eurotech Vauxhall 1m33.750s + 1.449s 14. Mat Jackson Motorbase Ford 1m33.795s + 1.494s 15. Tom Boardman Special Tuning SEAT 1m33.796s + 1.495s 16. Nick Foster WSR BMW 1m33.863s + 1.562s 17. Jeff Smith Eurotech Vauxhall 1m33.912s + 1.611s 18. Andy Neate Arena Ford 1m33.917s + 1.616s 19. Daniel Welch Welch Proton 1m34.196s + 1.895s 20. John George Tech-Speed Chevrolet 1m34.274s + 1.973s 21. Michael Caine Motorbase Ford 1m34.379s + 2.078s 22. Liam Griffin Motorbase Ford 1m34.392s + 2.091s 23. Martin Byford AmD Volkswagen 1m34.4 s + 2.139s 24. Rob Austin Rob Austin Audi 1m35.178s + 2.877s 25. Tony Gilham Geoff Steel BMW 1m35.237s + 2.936s 26. Lea Wood Central Group Honda 1m35.739s + 3.438s 27. Chris Swanwick Rob Austin Audi 1m37.587s + 5.286s 28. Tony Hughes Speedworks Toyota 1m37.911s + 5.610s 29. Chris James ES Chevrolet 1m39.499s + 7.198s
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