Tom Ingram was the first of the BTCC title contenders to hit the front as the Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com driver topped FP2 at Brands Hatch.
The Hyundai racer is seven points off the standings summit and currently sits third in the overall standings, so will be hoping for a front row starting berth later this afternoon.
The 29-year-old eventually flexed his muscles in the final practice session by setting a lap time nearly four tenths faster than the chasing pack.
"I think this weekend will be incredible, because it’s the first time in a long time that four drivers will enter the season finale all with a genuine chance of being able to win it, but also the top three being so close on points. It promises to be immensely exciting," said Ingram.
"The plan is to hit the ground running, fight for the front row of the grid and race wins – and come away with the trophy. I’ve been the BTCC’s ‘nearly man’ too many times – it’s time to finish the job!
"We’ve done a lot of work away from the track over the past week-and-a-half since Silverstone, and I think we’re in a really good place. I feel like we’ve done all the homework we need to and have been through every single detail that we’ve got control over, so now’s the moment to get out there and get on with it.
"Brands Hatch is a circuit that suited us really well at the start of the year, when we were quick in qualifying even with no hybrid deployment. Fast forward a few months, and we’re in the power seat in the sense that we now do have a little bit of hybrid performance – not as much as Colin [Turkington], granted, but I think actually the ball’s in our court compared to Ash [Sutton] and Jake [Hill] in that respect.
"We’ve also been faster than Ash for most of the year, and Jake at this stage in the season will be feeling the pressure; that’s true of all of us, of course, but he’s not been here before so is at a bit of a disadvantage. Ash has obviously won the title previously, as has Colin and I’ve been in this position of going into the finale in contention for a few years now. It will be all eyes on who’s going to crack first, but I’m feeling strong – and ready to win."
Jack Sears Trophy leader Bobby Thompson was an impressive second in the Team HARD-run CUPRA, ahead of Ingram's team-mate Dan Lloyd.
Team BMW's Colin Turkington was next in the order, in front of FP1 pace-setter Dan Cammish in his NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus.
Rich Energy BTC Racing's Jason Plato – contesting his final BTCC race weekend – showed well in sixth, closely followed by George Gamble (Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport) and Daniel Rowbottom (Halfords Racing with Cataclean).
Title contender Jake Hill was ninth in the ROKiT MB Motorsport BMW, whilst Josh Cook rounded out the top ten in his BTC Racing-run Honda Civic.
Qualifying for Round 28 of the 2022 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship takes place at 1540 with ITV now streaming live for the remainder of the day via www.itv.com/btcc.
2022 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 2 – Brands Hatch GP
1. Tom INGRAM (GBR) Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com 1:30.213s
2. Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) Autobrite Direct with JourneyHero +0.397s
3. Daniel LLOYD (GBR) Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com +0.417s
4. Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.430s
5. Dan CAMMISH (GBR) NAPA Racing UK +0.473s
6. Jason PLATO (GBR) Rich Energy BTC Racing +0.476s
7. George GAMBLE (GBR) Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport +0.501s
8. Daniel ROWBOTTOM (GBR) Halfords Racing with Cataclean +0.505s
9. Jake HILL (GBR) ROKiT MB Motorsport +0.525s
10. Josh COOK (GBR) Rich Energy BTC Racing +0.548s
11. Ricky COLLARD (GBR) Toyota GAZOO Racing UK +0.687s
12. Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Toyota GAZOO Racing UK +0.698s
13. Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team BMW +0.725s
14. Tom CHILTON (GBR) Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com +0.742s
15. Árón TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) Yazoo with Safuu.com Racing +0.774s
16. Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Apec Racing with Beavis Morgan +0.811s
17. Michael CREES (GBR) CarStore Power Maxed Racing +0.940s
18. Dexter PATTERSON (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +0.996s
19. Adam MORGAN (GBR) Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport +1.160s
20. Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Racing with Cataclean +1.284s
21. Ash SUTTON (GBR) NAPA Racing UK +1.324s
22. Jack BUTEL (GBR) Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com +1.462s
23. Jade EDWARDS (GBR) Rich Energy BTC Racing +1.650s
24. Nic HAMILTON (GBR) Yazoo with Safuu.com Racing +1.674s
25. Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +1.737s
26. Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) Autobrite Direct with JourneyHero +1.889s
27. Ash HAND (GBR) CarStore Power Maxed Racing +2.047s
28. Sam OSBORNE (GBR) Apec Racing with Beavis Morgan +2.283s
29. Rick PARFITT (GBR) Uptonsteel with Euro Car Parts Racing +3.045s
