Halfords Yuasa Racing's Dan Cammish has continued his impressive start to life in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship by setting the pace in the opening practice session at Donington Park.
The Yorksireman set provisional pole position at Brands Hatch during the first qualifying session of the new season earlier this month, only to lose it all to a pitlane infringement, but he has underlined his pace with an early showing at Donington.
"It’s a big change for me and a very, very steep learning curve in a very short period of time," said Cammish. "We’ve got the speed there in the car, we just need to refine it. The racing’s very different to what I’m used to – it’s elbows out and all about getting stuck in then seeing where you go from there. The aim over the three races is just to go forward and I’m only going to get stronger – I’m in with a great team."
Wet conditions meant all 32-cars ran on Dunlop BluResponse wet tyres for the full 40-minute duration and it was the all-new Honda Civic Type R that showed its class around the 1.98-mile circuit.
Power Maxed TAG Racing enjoyed a breakthrough victory with Senna Proctor at Brands Hatch, but this time it's his team-mate Josh Cook grabbing the early headlines. The former Jack Sears Trophy winner was second fastest here in his Vauxhall Astra, as he pipped the BMW of Andrew Jordan and Subaru of Ash Sutton on the timesheets.
Brett Smith (Eurotech) and Aiden Moffat (Laser Tools Racing) were next up in the order, ahead of James Cole (Motorbase) and Rory Butcher (AmD).
Jack Goff was ninth in his older shaped Honda, whilst Adam Morgan's Ciceley Motorsport Mercedes completed the top ten.
Free Practice Two will take place at 1235 before qualifying commences at 1520, where the action can be viewed live and exclusively via www.itv.com/btcc.
2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 1 – Donington Park
1 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing 1m19.925s
2 Josh COOK (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +0.027s
3 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.432s
4 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.490s
5 Brett SMITH (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +0.554s
6 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +0.576s
7 James COLE (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +0.609s
8 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +0.704s
9 Jack GOFF (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +0.823s
10 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +0.843s
11 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +0.895s
12 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +0.908s
13 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +0.923s
14 James NASH (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +1.121s
15 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +1.191s
16 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +1.202s
17 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +1.203s
18 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +1.457s
19 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +1.549s
20 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Team GardX Racing with Motorbase +1.643s
21 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing +1.677s
22 Tom BOARDMAN (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +1.688s
23 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +1.762s
24 Mike BUSHELL (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +1.785s
25 Josh PRICE (GBR) Autoglym Academy Racing +1.976s
26 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +2.294s
27 Sam SMELT (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +2.589s
28 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +2.925s
29 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +3.004s
30 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +6.645s
31 Michael CAINE (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars
32 Jake HILL (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing
