Photo: BTCC

Josh Cook on top in second practice as times tumble

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Josh Cook moved to the head of the field as times tumbled in second practice ahead of the third round of the BTCC at Oulton Park.

After rain showers throughout Saturday morning, the 40 minute session would run in dry conditions throughout, with the fastest laps being close to the race lap record held by Colin Turkington.

Turkington was the first to set a quick lap in his BMW 330i M Sport as drivers immediately beat Mike Bushell’s FP1 best, but it was the Ford Focus of Rory Butcher that spend a large portion of the session on top of the times having set a 1:26.451 lap early on.

After a brief stoppage for Ash Sutton’s Infiniti to be removed from the gravel at Lodge after going straight on, Butcher’s position at the top came under threat, with Dan Cammish jumping ahead in the closing moments only to then be usurped by Cook as the chequered flag flew.

The BTC Racing man would end up a tenth of a second clear of Cammish, with Butcher left to settle for third having been one of a handful of drivers who wouldn’t improve late on.

Chris Smiley continued the solid early form for the Hyundai i30 N with the fourth quickest time ahead of Bushell, who continued to impress at the wheel of the Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra.

Despite the additional ballast on his BMW, Turkington would end the session sixth, with the top ten rounded out by Adam Morgan, Tom Ingram, Tom Oliphant and Matt Neal.

Qualifying will take place at 15:25.