BTCC Brands Hatch: Colin Turkington takes pole for race one

The session was halted after eight minutes when Aron Smith's Team BKR VW CC slid into the gravel at Westfield corner. He was uninjured but was taken to the medical centre for checks.

Turkington set a string of laps that were fast enough for top spot and he led the way from Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Avensis driver Tom Ingram.

However, Ingram lost his front-row start shortly after the session when his car failed the ride height test in scrutineering.

Northern Irishman Turkington, who took his third pole of the season, said: "Midway through the session and I was 18th and it was raining, and I thought it might be all over.

"But I just kept it all going and I put it all on the line at the end and pulled the lap time out of that. I am delighted."

Rob Austin took a season's best third place in his Handy Motorsport Toyota Avensis, which becomes second ahead of Jason Plato in the second Team BMR Subaru Levorg.

The Power Maxed Chevrolet Cruze of Hunter Abbott was fourth from Josh Cook's Triple Eight MG6.

Championship leader Sam Tordoff was 10th in his WSR BMW 125i M Sport, which was carrying 75kg of success ballast.

His main points rival Gordon Shedden was seventh in his works Honda Civic Type R, with team-mate Matt Neal 11th.

Rob Collard, who is fourth in the points going in to the races tomorrow, had a gear linkage problem as he took to the circuit, but the stoppage allowed the WSR crew to refettle the BMW 125i M Sport.

He set a time on the wet circuit and will line up in 12th spot.

QUALIFYING RESULT