The Beechdean Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 shared by Andrew Howard and Ross Gunn topped the times in the opening Intelligent Money British GT Championship Free Practice session of the weekend at Brands Hatch this morning (Saturday).

It was Gunn that set the pace leading time for the Pro-Am duo, lapping the Kent circuit's longer Grand Prix layout in 1m25.158s in scorching conditions. That was enough to put the machine two tenths clear of Jules Gounon's best effort in the Mercedes-AMG he shares with reigning champion Ian Loggie.

The top-three was completed at the end of an hour's running by the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO of Shaun Balfe and Sandy Mitchell. This meant that three manufacturers were represented in the leading positions during the series' first official running of the weekend.

The top-five was completed by the championship leading Mercedes-AMG of James Cottingham and Jonny Adam and the McLaren of Mark Radcliffe and Rob Bell.

The British GT cars will return to the track for additional Free Practice at 12.35pm ahead of split qualifying sessions from 3.55pm.

Intelligent Money British GT Championship, Free Practice 1, Brands Hatch

1. Howard/Gunn, Beechdean Motorsport, Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3, 1m125.158s
2. Loggie/Gounon, 2Seas Motorsport, Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, +0.203s
3. Balfe/Mitchell, Barwell Motorsport, Laborghini Huracan GT3 Evo, +0.259s
4. Cottingham/Adam, 2Seas Motorsport, Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, +0.444s
5. Radcliffe/Bell, Optimum Motorsport, McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, +0.449s
6. Sansom/Tregurtha, Barwell Motorsport, Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo, +0.530s
7. Price/Macleod, Greystone GT, Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, +0.607s
8. Smith/Plowman, Paddock Motorsport, McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, +0.618s
9. Ferguson/Marciello, RAM Racing, Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, +0.628s
10. Campbell/Kell, RACE LAB, McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, +0.959s