Charles Rainford topped a Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship session for the first time after lapping the Brands Hatch Indy circuit in 47.335s this morning (Saturday).
That was enough for the series newcomer, contesting just his second BTCC weekend, to edge out reigning champion Jake Hill by just over a tenth of a second. The duo finished the second first and second to set up a positive morning for the West Surrey Racing squad which runs their BMW machines.
Best of the non-BMW entries was Donington Park pole sitter Dan Cammish who was just under two tenths adrift of Rainford’s session leading time in third. Adam Morgan was fourth, just ahead of fellow Team Vertu Hyundai competitor Tom Ingram.
Chris Smiley was another Hyundai runner to show strongly, ending up sixth in his Restart Racing machine just one place ahead of Mikey Doble in the first of the grid’s two Vauxhall Astras. Daniel Rowbottom ended the 35-minute circuit session eighth just ahead of Josh Cook.
The top-10 was completed by championship leader Ash Sutton, fresh from his two victories last time out at Donington Park. The session saw Sutton make his first appearance at the wheel of a Ford Focus ST in a special one-off livery.
Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Free Practice 1, Brands Hatch
- Charles Rainford, LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR, BMW 330i M Sport, 47.335s
- Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, BMW 330i M Sport, +0.137s
- Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST, +0.196s
- Adam Morgan, Team Vertu, Hyundai i30N, +0.198s
- Tom Ingram, Team Vertu, Hyundai i30N, +0.227s
- Chris Smiley, Restart Racing, Hyundai i30N, +0.255s
- Mikey Doble, Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing, Vauxhall Astra, +0.283s
- Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST, +0.292s
- Josh Cook, One Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R, +0.294s
- Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST, +0.305s
Click here to view full results from this weekend.