Neal fastest as Giovanardi and Jelley crashes

Vauxhall continues on top at Thruxton, but this time it was Matt Neal on the top spot. His best time was 1:19.388 which was one tenth faster than BMW man Colin Turkington. But it was neither of these that the attention was focused on during this session. Fabrizio Giovanardi and Stephen Jelley collided in the very fast Noble corner.

Both cars sustained a lot of damage and the team are currently racing against time to get the cars ready for the afternoon qualifying session.

“It was just very unfortunate. Fabrizio was on an out lap and moved right going into Goodwood to give me room on the outside. But I was fully committed – the right hand part of the track there is the racing line and I had nowhere to go.

I actually jinked right onto the grass and miss him but as I came back on he was still there and we hit each other,” said Jelley to BTCC.net.

The Italian was mildly irritated by the incident.

“I moved right and gave him all the track on the left to pass me but still… bang!”

Team boss Ian Harrison was fuming.

“It’s front and rear suspension and has put us behind quite a lot – the tyre situation here is critical and we’ve effectively lost a session evaluating that. Thanks, Stephen.”

The session was red flagged due to this, but all of the drivers had time to set lap times before that. Adam Jones continues his strong performance and was once again third.

Robert Collard in the Airwaves BMW was fourth fastest ahead of Vauxhall man Andrew Jordan and series returnee James Thompson.

Paul O’Neil was seventh fastest ahead of the fast improving Mat Jackson. The previous BMW struck a late deal with RML Chevrolet and is seemingly getting to grips with the Lacetti quickly.

His team mate Jason Plato was tenth fastest behind Stephen Jelley before the red flags came out.