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British Touring Car Championship
Croft - Qualifying - 23/6/12

By MJP Media | 23 June 2012

Honda take the top 3 places in qualifying at Croft as Matt Neal secures pole position for the first race tomorrow ahead of Andrew Jordan, Gordon Shedden and Frank Wrathall.

Matt Neal will start the first race from pole position
Matt Neal will start the first race from pole position

Qualifying for the 13th race of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship 2012 season took place at Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire with the ever-present threat of rain. A brief fall of rain a few minutes before the session started together with dark clouds heading towards the circuit was enough to encourage the drivers to post an early qualifying lap time in case the weather got any worse.

As it turned out, the rain held off and the drivers set about the business of qualifying for the first race tomorrow. As in the earlier free practice sessions, the early pace was set by the Honda Civics of Gordon Shedden, Matt Neal and Andrew Jordan. Rob Austin was also running well as in his Audi A4 as was Jason Plato in his MG KX Momentum Racing MG6 and Frank Wrathall in the Dynojet Toyota Avensis.

Andrew Jordan qualified 2nd in a Honda Civic 1-2-3 lockout
Andrew Jordan qualified 2nd in a Honda Civic 1-2-3 lockout

As the 30 minute session progressed, many drivers improved their lap times but none could beat the earlier times set by the Honda Civics. In the closing minutes, Jason Plato slowed to a stop at the hairpin, bringing out the yellow flags as marshals pushed his car out of the way.

At the end of the session it was Matt Neal in the Honda Yuasa Racing Team Civic who posted the fastest time and secured pole position for the first race tomorrow. Joining Neal on the front row of the grid will be Andrew Jordan in the Pirtek Racing Honda Civic. Gordon Shedden will start on row 2 in the other Honda Yuasa Racing Team Civic giving Honda the top 3 places.

Frank Wrathall qualified 4th to start on the 2nd row of the grid
Frank Wrathall qualified 4th to start on the 2nd row of the grid

Having been 13th and 9th in the free practice sessions, Frank Wrathall did an amazing job to qualify in 4th place, putting his Dynojet Toyota Avensis on the second row of the grid alongside Gordon Shedden. Jason Plato qualified 5th putting him of the third row of the grid alongside the fast-starting eBay Motors BMW 320si of Rob Collard.

It looks like the Honda Civics will be hard to beat around the Croft Circuit but with less than half a second covering the top 6 drivers and 4 different cars in the top 6, the racing is sure to be thrilling. Don't miss it!

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