No fewer than nine BTCC drivers are taking on the Goodwood Hill at this weekend’s (24-26 June) famous Festival of Speed, with the tin-top shootout getting underway earlier today.

Honda, MG, Subaru, BMW, Ford, Chevrolet and Mercedes BTCC cars are all represented and it was WSR’s Sam Tordoff earning bragging rights on the morning run – the Yorkshireman’s BMW 125i M Sport was fastest of the 2016 BTCC crop and seventh overall from nearly 50 competitors.

“I am really excited,” said Sam. “It was a cagey lap to be honest and I’m sure the pace will get faster as the weekend progresses. It’ll be competitive too. The event is part of BMW’s centenary celebrations so I really want to win it.”

Tordoff, Ash Sutton, Josh Cook, Jason Plato, Matt Neal, Gordon Shedden, Andrew Jordan, Kelvin Fletcher and Adam Morgan will all get timed opportunities over the weekend with Sunday being the main event, but not all of them are in competitive mood.

“I’m just trying to decide how many of my BTCC rivals I can wipe out,” joked reigning champion Gordon Shedden. “We’ll have some fun over the weekend. It’s all about the crowd and it’s a great event.”

Jordan eventually topped the times on Friday as he edged out Tordoff by just three tenths of a second. The 2013 BTCC champion starred in his Pirtek Racing Ford Focus, but also wowed the crowds in a World Rallycross car later in the day.

“I’ve been warned that I can’t get a scratch on the car as we take it straight to the Snetterton test from here,” said Adam Morgan, who was third behind Jordan and Tordoff. “But I’ve been told there’s a nice watch on offer to the winner so that changes everything!”

You can keep up with live timing and results of the event at http://www.tsl-timing.com/event/162522 and the official BTCC website will feature a review early next week.