Jason Plato fastest in first practice at Silverstone

Jason Plato was fastest of all for the Triple Eight MG team at Silverstone in the first 40 minute free practice session at a damp Silverstone.

In the cold morning session, the track remained wet throughout from overnight rain, despite the Porsche Carrera Cup GB qualifying session also taking place just before.

Tom Onslow-Cole set the first benchmark in the West Surrey Racing BMW 320si, but soon it was two-time BTCC champion Jason Plato who set the fastest time, the only driver under the 1:05m mark with a time of 1:04.819.

Some drivers opted to do minimal running, as no rain is forecast for the rest of the weekend, with championship leader Gordon Shedden just setting 10 laps in his Honda Civic and finished 14th fastest.

Rob Austin Racing driver Will Bratt and Team ES Racing’s Chris James were removed from the session early after receiving black flags, as both drivers cut the first corner at Copse on too many occasions. Motorbase Performance’s Liam Griffin and Eurotech’s Jeff Smith were given warnings which didn’t progress as far as an exclusion.

The other Team ES Racing Vauxhall of Dave Newsham was suffering with an unknown handling problem and spent most of the time in the pits, ending up 24th fastest and last.

Thorney Motorsport’s new signing Chris Stockton was 20th fastest in the Vauxhall Insignia.

The next free practice session takes place at 12:05 BST.