Photo: PSP Images

Tom Chilton leads the way in second BTCC practice

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Tom Chilton guided his Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS Hyundai to the top of the times in the second British Touring Car Championship practice session of the day at Brands Hatch.

Chilton set a best time of 48.047 in a session that was halted by a late red flag after NAPA Racing UK’s Dan Rowbottom ran wide into the Paddock Hill Bend gravel trap.

Despite his excursion and his Ford Focus needing to be recovered, Rowbottom finished second overall ahead of his team-mate Dan Cammish and the Toyota of Josh Cook, who once again featured towards the top of the times.

Ronan Pearson continued his front-running form from Donington Park by posting the fifth fastest time, ahead of Adam Morgan who was the lead BMW.

Rounding out the top ten was Free Practice 1 pace-setter Aron Taylor-Smith, Donington Park race winner Aiden Moffat, reigning champion Ash Sutton and Jake Hill.

The finishing order of second practice has now decided the two groups for the first phase of qualifying, whereby the six fastest drivers will progress into the second section of the new-for-2024 ‘Quick Six’ format.

Qualifying 1 – Group 1: Tom Chilton, Dan Cammish, Ronan Pearson, Aron Taylor-Smith, Ash Sutton, Mikey Doble, Colin Turkington, Rob Huff, Sam Osborne, Daryl Deleon

Qualifying 1 – Group 2: Dan Rowbottom, Josh Cook, Adam Morgan, Aiden Moffat, Jake Hill, Tom Ingram, Andrew Watson, Chris Smiley, Scott Sumpton, Nick Halstead

Qualifying at the Kent circuit is scheduled to commence at 15:25 local time/16:25 CEST this afternoon.