Gordon Shedden fastest in FP1 at Thruxton

Gordon Shedden finished on top the timesheets for Honda Yuasa Racing after a wet first free practice session at Thruxton, setting a fastest time of 1:20.968.

It was a battle between the two Honda Yuasa Racing NGTC Civics in the opening half of the session with Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden swapping places at the top of the timesheets, before Shedden set a time that could not be matched.

Jason Plato rounded out the top three in his NGTC MG6. His Triple Eight Race Engineering team mate Andy Neate did not set a time in the session. West Surrey Racing’s Rob Collard, who spent much of the session in the top five, finished behind Plato in fourth.

Eurotech Racing’s Andrew Jordan was late to set a time in the session, quickly making his way into the top five. However Jordan pulled off track with a problem shortly afterwards, finishing the session in fifth. Jordan’s team mate, Jeff Smith, caused the only red flag of the session after a spin coming into the chicane where yellow flags were being waved for his team mate’s Honda Civic. The race was restarted with five minutes on the clock after the marshals removed the debris from the middle of the chicane.

Finishing behind Smith in seventh on the timesheets was Speedworks Motorsport’s Adam Morgan, in his BTCC debut at the circuit. Eighth place was claimed by another Thruxton BTCC debutante, ES Racing’s Dave Newsham.

Rob Austin did not participate in the opening free practice sessions with the Rob Austin Racing not getting an engine back until today after problems on the dyno.

The second practice session is due to take place at 12:15 UK time.