Photo: PSP Images

Dan Rowbottom sets benchmark time in opening BTCC practice

By

Dan Rowbottom set the pace in the opening British Touring Car Championship practice session of the weekend at Donington Park, topping the times narrowly ahead of Tom Ingram and Daniel Lloyd. 

Basking in bright sunshine around the Grand Prix layout of the East Midlands circuit, the Alliance Racing driver hit the front late on with his time of 1:33.376 being two tenths of a second shy of the outright qualifying lap record.

Championship leader Ingram continued his recent run of fine form by finishing a tenth of a second behind Rowbottom, having earlier been the benchmark to beat in his EXCELR8 Motorsport Hyundai i30 N. 

Restart Racing’s Lloyd ensured there were two Hyundai’s inside the top three as he posted the third fastest time in the closing stages while Dan Cammish and Charles Rainford set the exact same time to complete the top five. 

Four-time champion Ash Sutton had set the pace in the early throws of the session but he ultimately settled for sixth, marginally ahead of Speedworks Motorsport ace Aron Taylor-Smith and the Hyundai of Tom Chilton. 

Rounding out the top ten was Independent pace-setter Chris Smiley and West Surrey Racing’s Daryl DeLeon. 

Outside the top ten, reigning champion and Knockhill winner Jake Hill was 15th, one spot ahead of the returning Josh Cook who was back behind the wheel of the Speedworks Toyota Corolla GR Sport having replaced James Dorlin earlier this week. 

Second practice is scheduled to get underway at 11:50, followed by qualifying at 15:25.