Colin Turkington fastest in first practice

The British Touring Car Championship season 2009 has kicked off at Brands Hatch today. During the first timed practice session it was Colin Turkington who set the fastest time in his Team RAC BMW. He did a lap at the Brands Hatch circuit in 49.006s, despite the light drizzle.

The big favorites for the title from Vauxhall, Fabrizio Giovanardi and Matt Neal, didn’t come out on the track untill 15 minutes from the end of the session. Despite that Neal finished the session in second, only 0.065s behind Turkington, and Giovanardi was fourth fastest. The team was obviously happy with the set up they had found in pre-season testing.

Jonathan Adam, who made is debut in the Airwaves BMW, got off to a good start, taking third fastest time in the session. He was just over 0.09s slower than Turkington.

It was also the first time Jason Plato drove his new Chevrolet Lacetti. He drove 27 laps in the first practice session and set 10th fastest time. With that time he was fastest of all the Chevrolet’s on track.