Sport   Motorsport   Touring Cars

British Touring Car Championship
Thruxton - Free Practice - 28/4/12

By MJP Media | 28 April 2012

Gordon Shedden dominated free practice at Thruxton in difficult conditions as Honda get 4 cars in the top six in both sessions.

Gordon Shedden dominated both free practice sessions
Gordon Shedden dominated both free practice sessions

Thruxton in Hampshire provides the venue for the 3rd meeting of the 2012 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. After the action and incidents of the previous meeting, expectations were high as the teams took to the track at the fastest circuit on the BTCC calendar.

The first free practice session took place on a wet track as wind and rain made the circuit conditions challenging for all the drivers. Honda dominated the session with 4 cars in the top 6 places as Gordon Shedden topped the time sheets in his Honda Yuasa Racing Team Civic, over a second ahead of team-mate Matt Neal in 2nd. Andrew Jordan and Jeff Smith were 5th and 6th respectively in their Pirtek Racing Honda Civics.

Jason Plato was the fastest non-Honda driver in the first session
Jason Plato was the fastest non-Honda driver in the first session

The best of the non-Honda drivers were Jason Plato in his MG KX Momentum Racing MG6 who finished the session in 3rd and Rob Collard in his eBay Motors BMW 320si in 4th.

The rain held off for the 2nd free practice session however the track was still very wet from the earlier rain making conditions very tricky for the drivers. Gordon Shedden was once again the class of the field, topping the time sheets in the Honda Yuasa Racing Team Civic. The Scot from Dalgety Bay further demonstrated his superiority by once again posting a time over a second quicker than the next fastest driver.

Matt Neal and Jeff Smith in their Honda Civics during the 1st free practice session
Matt Neal and Jeff Smith in their Honda Civics during the 1st free practice session

Jason Plato ended the 2nd session in 2nd place ahead of Matt Neal and Andrew Jordan. Dave Newsham finished 5th fastest with Jeff Smith completing the top 6. As in the first session, 4 of the top 6 places were taken by Honda Civics suggesting that these will be the cars to beat in the forthcoming qualifying session.

Touring Car content supplied by MJP Media

Olympus Camera

TOURING CARS - LATEST NEWS

Race reports and previews from the British Touring Car Championship plus British interests in other international Touring Car series


BTCC - Thruxton - Free Practice - 28/4/12 BTCC - Thruxton - Free Practice - 28/4/12
Gordon Shedden dominated free practice at Thruxton in difficult conditions as Honda get 4 cars in the top six in both sessions.


BTCC - Thruxton Preview - WIN TICKETS! BTCC - Thruxton Preview - WIN TICKETS!
The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship heads to the super-fast Thruxton circuit in Hampshire on April 28th and 29th for the 3rd meeting of the 2012 season.


BTCC - Donington Park - Race 3 Report Update - 15/4/12 BTCC - Donington Park - Race 3 Report Update - 15/4/12
Gordon Shedden is awarded victory in race 3 at Donington Park following the exclusion of Mat Jackson and a time penalty for Jason Plato.


BTCC - Donington Park - Race 3 Report - 15/4/12 BTCC - Donington Park - Race 3 Report - 15/4/12
Mat Jackson added to his race 1 victory by winning the 3rd race of the day at Donington Park. Jason Plato still leads the championship but Jackson is only 3 points behind.


BTCC - Donington Park - Race 2 Report - 15/4/12 BTCC - Donington Park - Race 2 Report - 15/4/12
Gordon Shedden heads a 1-2 victory for Honda Yuasa Racing at Donington Park whilst Jason Plato is involved in a first lap incident that ruins his race.


BTCC - Donington Park - Race 1 Report - 15/4/12 BTCC - Donington Park - Race 1 Report - 15/4/12
Mat Jackson wins the first race of the day from Donington Park ahead of Honda Yuasa Racing Team duo Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal.


BTCC - Donington Park - Qualifying - 14/4/12 BTCC - Donington Park - Qualifying - 14/4/12
Jason Plato secures pole position for the first race of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship meeting at Donington Park tomorrow.


BTCC - Donington Park - Free Practice - 14/4/12 BTCC - Donington Park - Free Practice - 14/4/12
Dave Newsham and Mat Jackson top the timesheets in free practice at a bitterly cold Donington Park.


BTCC - Donington Park - Preview BTCC - Donington Park - Preview
Following the thrills and spills at the opening rounds, the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship now heads to Donington Park on April 14th and 15th for the 2nd meeting of the 2012 season.


BTCC - Brands Hatch - Race 3 Report - 1/4/12 BTCC - Brands Hatch - Race 3 Report - 1/4/12
Jason Plato wins the final race of the day at Brands Hatch for MG KX Momentum Racing following an action-packed race.


BTCC - Brands Hatch - Race 2 Report - 1/4/12 BTCC - Brands Hatch - Race 2 Report - 1/4/12
Matt Neal takes victory in the 2nd race as Jason Plato gets his first podium finish for MG KX Momentum Racing.


BTCC - Brands Hatch - Race 1 Report - 1/4/12 BTCC - Brands Hatch - Race 1 Report - 1/4/12
Rob Collard wins the 1st race of the 2012 BTCC season in front of a bumper crowd at Brands Hatch amid dramatic action further down the field.