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Croft practise 1: Thompson top

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In searing heat, James Thompson set the fastest time in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship’s first practice session at his home circuit of Croft in North Yorkshire this morning.

Thompson was underneath his own race lap record as he topped the times with a 1m25.604s lap in his SEAT Leon. But there was a minor drama for the Harrogate driver – his car’s engine sprung an oil leak and it appears likely that the motor will need to be changed in time for second practice.

What was notable was that Thompson’s car was only tenth and 12th fastest through the two speed traps.

Reigning champion Matt Neal was the only driver to get close to Thompson’s time with a lap in 1m25.711s. This was a particularly fine effort as, for the third race meeting in a row, Neal’s car starts the weekend carrying maximum success ballast – an additional 45kgs in weight – thanks to him leading the championship.

Third was Thompson’s team-mate Jason Pato. He was closely followed by the fastest of the two Team RAC MG drivers, Robert Collard, then Vauxhall’s Tom Chilton and Team Eurotech’s Mike Jordan. Team RAC’s Colin Turkington, currently second to Neal in the standings, was seventh.

However, Turkington set his time in the session’s second half and the consensus among many was that by then a fast time was difficult to come by because of rising track temperatures.

There were minor dramas for Honda Civic drivers Mark Proctor and James Kaye. Proctor’s Fast-Tec car suffered a driveshaft problem while Kaye’s Synchro machine suffered panel damage and deranged steering after clipping a tyre barrier.

Turkish driver Erkut Kizilirmak’s BTCC debut started in exactly the same way when his Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch – his arrival has increased the VXR line-up to four cars – did exactly the same through the chicane.

Ireland’s Eoin Murray, also making his BTCC debut in the Quest Racing team’s Alfa Romeo 156, was hugely impressive – the car was third fastest overall through the first speed trap as he ended up 14th out of the 20 runners.