Photo: PSP Images

Colin Turkington heads first practice at Thruxton

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Colin Turkington made the most of the low ballast on his West Surrey Racing-run BMW to top the times in first practice for the latest rounds of the BTCC season at Thruxton.

Currently tenth in the standings after a tough weekend at Donington last time out, Turkington hit the front mid-way through a largely quiet 40 minute session and remained out front throughout as teams worked largely on preparing for qualifying later today and tomorrow’s three races.

Turkington’s best time of 1:16.268s saw him end up a tenth of a second clear of the Vauxhall Astra of Donington race winner Josh Cook, with his Power Maxed Racing team-mate Senna Proctor slotting into third – albeit four tenths of a second off the pace set by the BMW out front.

Tom Chilton was the quickest of the Motorbase drivers as he put his Ford Focus into fourth spot ahead of Dan Cammish’s Honda Civic Type-R, with Jack Goff rounding out the top six.

Ash Sutton, quickest during testing at the circuit last month, Andrew Jordan, Mike Bushell and Rob Collard completed the top ten.

Current points leader Tom Ingram was 21st on the times with a best lap 1.2s off the pace.