Mat Jackson sets early pace in free practice for Donington BTCC round
Mat Jackson has topped the first British Touring Car free practice at Donington Park this morning
The Motorbase Ford Focus driver was the first to get down to competitive times and his 1m11.465s effort early in the session remained unbeaten.
That's was despite three of the NGTC Honda Civics putting in quick runs at the end of practice. Eurotech's Andrew Jordan and works drivers Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden were second third and fourth respectively, covered by just over a tenth.
Aron Smith underlined Motorbase's pace with fifth, the only other driver under 1m12s, while championship leader Jason Plato was sixth in the works MG6.
Brands Hatch polesitter Dave Newsham (ES Racing Vauxhall Vectra) was seventh, while a late effort from Rob Austin put the NGTC Audi A4 eighth.
Eurotech's Jeff Smith and the older Civic Tony Gilham made it five Hondas in the top 10, the latter despite an off at the Old Hairpin.
The only red flag of the session was caused when Brands Hatch race winner Rob Collard went off at the Craner Curves.
Pos Driver Team/Car Time Gap 1. Mat Jackson Motorbase Ford 1m11.465s 2. Andrew Jordan Eurotech Honda 1m11.507s + 0.042s 3. Matt Neal Dynamics Honda 1m11.590s + 0.125s 4. Gordon Shedden Dynamics Honda 1m11.609s + 0.144s 5. Aron Smith Motorbase Ford 1m11.860s + 0.395s 6. Jason Plato Triple 8 MG 1m12.126s + 0.661s 7. Dave Newsham ES Vauxhall 1m12.175s + 0.710s 8. Rob Austin Austin Audi 1m12.349s + 0.884s 9. Jeff Smith Eurotech Honda 1m12.368s + 0.903s 10. Tony Gilham Gilham Honda 1m12.705s + 1.240s 11. Frank Wrathall Dynojet Toyota 1m12.830s + 1.365s 12. Tom Onslow-Cole WSR BMW 1m12.841s + 1.376s 13. Andy Neate Triple 8 MG 1m12.946s + 1.481s 14. Adam Morgan Speedworks Toyota 1m13.069s + 1.604s 15. Lea Wood Wood Vauxhall 1m13.192s + 1.727s 16. Chris James ES Vauxhall 1m13.349s + 1.884s 17. Liam Griffin Motorbase Ford 1m14.270s + 2.805s 18. Daniel Welch Welch Proton 1m15.594s + 4.129s 19. Rob Collard WSR BMW 1m15.877s + 4.412s 20. Tony Hughes Speedworks Toyota 1m16.226s + 4.761s 21. John Thorne Thorney Vauxhall 1m16.519s + 5.054s 22. Ollie Jackson AmD Volkswagen 1m26.873s + 15.408s 23. Nick Foster WSR BMW no time
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