Photo: PSP Images

Dan Rowbottom leads NAPA Racing 1-2-3 in opening practice

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Dan Rowbottom came out of the blocks flying at Oulton Park to set the pace in the opening British Touring Car Championship practice session of the weekend.

The Ford Focus ST driver lodged a best time of 1:24.485 around the Cheshire circuit, just three tenths of a second off the ultimate qualifying lap record.

Rowbottom’s pace was reinforced by the 2025 double race winner being joined at the top of the times by his NAPA Racing UK stablemates Ash Sutton and Dan Cammish.

Behind the three Ford’s were a trio of Hyundai i30s – all of which run under the EXCELR8 Motorsport banner. Former champion Tom Ingram led the way in fourth ahead of Tom Chilton and Adam Morgan in fifth and sixth respectively.

One Motorsport’s Josh Cook punched in the seventh fastest time late in the session to finish ahead of the Toyota trio of Gordon Shedden, Aron Taylor-Smith and James Dorlin.

Further down the order Finn Leslie enjoyed a trouble-free session as he completed his first laps in the fourth Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Corolla GR Sport, setting the 22nd fastest time.

Free Practice 2 – which will also decide the groups for Q1 in qualifying later this afternoon – is scheduled to get underway at 12:05.