Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS’ Tom Chilton made his way to the front of the order in the second Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship Free Practice session at Brands Hatch.

NAPA Racing UK’s Dan Rowbottom held top spot for much of the running, before Chilton recorded a new benchmark of 48.047s – albeit a few tenths shy of Aron Taylor-Smith’s FP1 effort.

Looking to respond, Rowbottom clocked the fastest final sector of any driver before beginning another flying lap. Pushing to the limit, however, Rowbottom’s #32 Ford Focus went off at Paddock Hill Bend and his car made slight contact with the barrier.

"I just got a little bit too brave," said Rowbottom. "We've got good balance in the car, put new tyres on and wanted to try and make the most of it, but just pushed a bit too much."

"We've still got great pace, a little off doesn't change that, we've just got to prove it in qualifying and without ending up at the seaside!"

With five minutes on the clock at the restart there was little opportunity for improvement and much of the top ten remained unchanged until the chequered flag waved.

Dan Cammish (NAPA Racing UK), Josh Cook (LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ) and Ronan Pearson (Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS) were third, fourth and fifth respectively, with all three drivers looking to respond following mixed fortunes at the Donington Park season opener.

Team BMW’s Adam Morgan was next in the order, whilst Taylor-Smith again showed well with seventh in the Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall.

Donington Park race winner Aiden Moffat (LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ) was eighth, whilst Jake Hill (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport) and Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK) rounding out the top ten.

The new ‘Quick Six’ qualifying format commences at 1525 today, and for the first-time drivers will contend with the hybrid differentials based on championship position.

It’s possible that Hill and Sutton’s times in FP2 owe something to the lack of hybrid available – in preparation for qualifying – which may have also influenced both Colin Turkington (Team BMW) and Tom Ingram (Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS) positions outside the top ten.

All will be revealed during qualifying... watch the action here live from 1515 on the ITV Sport YouTube channel.

Brands Hatch Indy - Free Practice 2 – Classification