Team BMW's Adam Morgan topped the opening Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship Free Practice session on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit.
All six title contenders were in the next seven positions with Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK) and Tom Ingram (Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS) in second and third respectively.
Colin Turkington (Team BMW), Josh Cook (LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ) and Jake Hill (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport) were next in the order while Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing's Árón Taylor-Smith pipped Dan Cammish (NAPA Racing UK) to seventh.
The Toyotas of Aiden Moffat (LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ) and Rob Huff (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK) made the early running but eventually had to settle for ninth and 11th respectively, with the NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus of Dan Rowbottom wedged between them in tenth.
The cars will be back on track for the final practice session of the season at 1215, before a crucial qualifying commences at 1540.
The race for the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is set to go down to the wire with two drivers incredibly tied at the top of the Drivers’ standings and no fewer than six competitors in mathematical contention to clinch the crown.
After 27 drama-filled contests both Hill and Ingram cannot be separated, with the leading duo tied on 365 points – the first time in modern BTCC history that such a situation has occurred going into a season finale.
If that wasn’t enough, both Hill and Ingram have a record-equalling four-time champion in Sutton breathing down their necks – refusing to give up his crown without a fight. A win for the #1 Ford Focus in either of the first two bouts at Brands Hatch could throw the NAPA Racing UK star right into contention ahead of the final encounter.
The legendary Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit is the perfect backdrop for what is set to be one of the most dramatic title battles in memory, with its undulations and on-the-edge corners that are loved by fans and drivers alike. The Kent venue has always been the spiritual home of the BTCC, having held more races of Britain’s elite motorsport championship than any other circuit.
Brands Hatch GP - Free Practice 1 - Final Classification
| P/ | No/ | Name/ | Entry/ | Laps/ | Time/ | Gap/ | On/ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 33 | Adam MORGAN | Team BMW | 14 | 1:30.572 | 14 | |
| 2 | 1 | Ashley SUTTON | NAPA Racing UK | 15 | 1:30.589 | 0.017 | 8 |
| 3 | 80 | Tom INGRAM | Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS | 17 | 1:30.623 | 0.051 | 16 |
| 4 | 20 | Colin TURKINGTON | Team BMW | 16 | 1:30.726 | 0.154 | 7 |
| 5 | 66 | Josh COOK | LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ | 11 | 1:30.764 | 0.192 | 7 |
| 6 | 24 | Jake HILL | Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport | 11 | 1:30.789 | 0.217 | 8 |
| 7 | 40 | Árón TAYLOR-SMITH | Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing | 14 | 1:30.901 | 0.329 | 13 |
| 8 | 27 | Dan CAMMISH | NAPA Racing UK | 14 | 1:30.918 | 0.346 | 10 |
| 9 | 16 | Aiden MOFFAT | LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ | 15 | 1:31.139 | 0.567 | 15 |
| 10 | 32 | Daniel ROWBOTTOM | NAPA Racing UK | 16 | 1:31.146 | 0.574 | 9 |
| 11 | 12 | Rob HUFF | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK | 13 | 1:31.328 | 0.756 | 8 |
| 12 | 3 | Tom CHILTON | Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS | 13 | 1:31.460 | 0.888 | 13 |
| 13 | 45 | Dan ZELOS | Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS | 16 | 1:31.875 | 1.303 | 14 |
| 14 | 222 | Chris SMILEY | Restart Racing | 8 | 1:31.943 | 1.371 | 8 |
| 15 | 88 | Mikey DOBLE | Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing | 12 | 1:31.975 | 1.403 | 7 |
| 16 | 11 | Andrew WATSON | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK | 8 | 1:31.995 | 1.423 | 7 |
| 17 | 77 | Sam OSBORNE | NAPA Racing UK | 15 | 1:32.034 | 1.462 | 9 |
| 18 | 18 | Daryl DELEON | Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport | 7 | 1:32.964 | 2.392 | 6 |
| 19 | 29 | Scott SUMPTON | Restart Racing | 13 | 1:33.004 | 2.432 | 10 |
| 20 | 22 | Nick HALSTEAD | Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS | 18 | 1:34.329 | 3.757 | 18 |
