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British Touring Car Championship
Brands Hatch (GP) - Free Practice - 10/10/15

By MJP Media | 10 October 2015

Team BMR RCIB Insurance show the way in free practice at Brands Hatch as Colin Turkington tops the time sheets ahead of team-mate Jason Plato. Championship leader Gordon Shedden is 3rd fastest.

Colin Turkington topped the time sheets in free practice

It was a cool and overcast Brands Hatch GP circuit that greeted the drivers as they took to the track for the first of the two free practice sessions at the iconic Kent circuit. With an injured Warren Scott out of action this weekend, Team BMR RCIB Insurance driver coach Alain Menu took Scott's place in his Volkswagen CC however power steering problems meant he could not put in a meaningful lap time.

The session was red flagged around the half way point with Jason Plato topping the time sheet to allow the recovery of Jake Hill's stricken AMD Tuning.com Audi S3. Hill is racing the car previously driven by Nic Hamilton and last competed in the BTCC two years ago in a Rob Austin Racing Audi A4. The session was restarted with 15 minutes remaining on the clock. With all the drivers keen to complete their pre-arranged setup programmes in the time remaining there was a flourish of activity on track.

Adam Morgan was fastest in the 1st free practice session

With the temperature starting to climb in the Autumnal sunshine and any dampness receding the lap times started to fall with the quickest times being set towards the end of the session. Adam Morgan topped the time sheet in his WIX Racing Mercedes Benz A-Class before pushing too hard and running off into a gravel trap. Jason Plato posted the 2nd fastest time in his Team BMR RCIB Insurance Volkswagen CC with Mat Jackson 3rd fastest ahead of Colin Turkington. With championship leader Gordon Shedden managing only 10th fastest, it looked promising for Plato and Turkington who are currently 2nd and 3rd in the standings.

The second free practice session got under way with the sky still overcast but with slightly warmer temperatures than for the first session. The Team BMR RCIB Insurance mechanics had worked on Alain Menu's Volkswagen CC and the Swiss driver was able to take a full part in the session. Adam Morgan was unable to repeat his performance from the first session, ending the second session in 15th place.

Jason Plato was 2nd fastest overall for Team BMR RCIB Insurance

Team BMR RCIB Insurance consolidated their earlier performance with Colin Turkington topping the second session time sheet ahead of team-mate Jason Plato. Gordon Shedden improved on his earlier lap time to finish 3rd fastest, just 0.001 seconds behind Plato. Andy Priaulx finished 4th fastest in his Team IHG Rewards Club BMW 125i M Sport with Jack Goff's MG 888 Racing MG 6GT 5th ahead of team-mate Andrew Jordan.

The next BTCC activity this afternoon from the Brands Hatch circuit is the qualifying session to determine the grid for the first race of the day tomorrow and with pole position, the opportunity to earn what could be a crucial championship point. With the championship battle as close as is, every point is important to all of the title hopefuls.

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