Tom Ingram set the initial pace as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship got its season finale weekend underway in earnest with the first Free Practice session on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit this morning (Saturday).
The reigning champion's best effort of 1m30.712s was enough to lead the way by just 0.018s from local ace Jake Hill, who was the fastest of the West Surrey Racing prepared BMWs in second. Series leader Ash Sutton completed the top-three with an effort just over a tenth of a second off Ingram's pace in his NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus ST.
It was largely a straightforward session for all of the leading contenders on a bright morning at the Kent circuit, with the only disruption coming via a red flag interruption following Adam Morgan's on-track stoppage.
Behind the leading trio, Ricky Collard led a strong Free Practice session for Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, in which all three of its Corollas featured in the top-ten. Collard's pace was enough to secure fourth in the order with teammates Rory Butcher and George Gamble taking eighth and tenth.
Bobby Thompson continued his strong 2023 form in sixth, just behind Stephen Jelley's BMW in sixth. Colin Turkington in seventh and Dan Cammish in ninth were the other drivers to feature towards the front of the order.
Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Brands Hatch, Free Practice 1
- Tom Ingram, BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8, Hyundai i30N
- Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, BMW 330e M Sport
- Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST
- Ricky Collard, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, Toyota Corolla GR Sport
- Stephen Jelley, Team BMW, BMW 330e M Sport
- Bobby Thompson, Go-Fix with Autoaid Breakdown, Cupra Leon
- Colin Turkington, Team BMW, BMW 330e M Sport
- Rory Butcher, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, Toyota Corolla GR Sport
- Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST
- George Gamble, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, Toyota Corolla GR Sport
Click here for full results from this race event.
This weekend's BTCC finale is supporting the Motor Neurone Disease Association and you can find out more about that here. You can also click here to view special items available to bid for in a silent online auction.