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British Touring Car Championship
Rockingham - Free Practice - 14/9/13

By MJP Media | 14 September 2013

Honda Civics top the time sheet in the first free practice session at Rockingham whilst Dave Newsham leads the way for Speedworks Motorsport in the second.

Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden were fastest in the first session

With its unique circuit layout, the Rockingham circuit in Northamptonshire provides distinctive challenges for the drivers and teams in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. Not only is this popular circuit the only left-handed track on the BTCC calendar, it is the only one that features a banked track. Both of these features mean the cars have to be setup specifically for the circuit and for this reason the free practice sessions are vital ahead of the qualifying session later today.

The first free practice session took place on a damp track and with Honda Civic drivers at the top of the championship standings, it was no surprise that Honda Yuasa Racing team-mates Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden topped the time sheets with current championship leader Neal taking the top spot. Currently 2nd in the championship, fellow Honda Civic driver Andrew Jordan was 3rd fastest for Pirtek Racing.

Dave Newsham was the class of the field in the second session

Outside the top 3, it was a good showing for the Toyota Avensis drivers as they posted the next fastest times of the session. Leading the rest of the field was Dave Newsham in the Speedworks Motorsport Avensis who was 4th fastest ahead of Frank Wrathall in the Dynojet Avensis who was 5th. Will Bratt completed the top 6 in his Rob Austin Racing Audi A4. The eBay Motors BMW 125i M Sport drivers struggled around the 1.94 mile circuit with Colin Turkington 13th, Nick Foster 16th and Rob Collard 20th.

With the track now dry for the second free practice session, it was clear that the Hondas which performed so well in the first session were suffering in the changed conditions. Matt Neal, who was fastest in the first session, dropped to 16th in the second whist team-mate Gordon Shedden dropped from 2nd to 9th. Andrew Jordan suffered the least, dropping from 3rd to 6th.

BTCC debutant Andy Wilmot in the Volkswagen Passat CC

With the Hondas off the top of the time sheets, it was Dave Newsham who posted the fastest time of the second session in his Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Avensis, demonstrating the performance which the car had always promised. Also performing well was Sam Tordoff in the MG KX Momentum Racing MG6 who posted the 2nd fastest time of the session which was significantly better than his team-mate Jason Plato who finished the session down in 10th place.

Mat Jackson completed the second session 3rd fastest in his Airwaves Racing Ford Focus with Pirtek Racing's Jeff Smith the highest finishing Honda driver in 4th. Adam Morgan was 5th fastest in the Ciceley Racing Toyota Avensis with Andrew Jordan completing the top 6. The eBay Motors drivers still struggled in their BMWs ending the session 7th, 12th and 13th. The free practice sessions also provided BTCC debutant Andy Wilmot with his first drive in the Team HARD. PPCGB.com / Kraftwerk Racing Volkswagen Passat CC.

Touring Car content supplied by MJP Media