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British Touring Car Championship
Rockingham - Qualifying - 14/9/13

By MJP Media | 14 September 2013

Jason Plato and Sam Tordoff secure a front row lockout for the first race from Rockingham tomorrow by qualifying 1st and 2nd for MG KX Momentum Racing.

Jason Plato on his way to pole position for MG KX Momentum Racing

The earlier free practice sessions produced some mixed results due to the variation in track conditions however the qualifying session to determine the grid for the first race from Rockingham tomorrow took place on a dry track, similar to the second practice session when Dave Newsham was fastest in the Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Avensis.

Early in the qualifying session, Sam Tordoff was fastest in his MG KX Momentum Racing MG6 with Pirtek Racing's Andrew Jordan 2nd in his Honda Civic before Rob Austin went fastest in the WIX Racing Audi A4. Jason Plato soon improved on his results from the practice sessions to be running 4th fastest. The Honda Yuasa Racing Civics of Gordon Shedden still appeared to be struggling with Gordon Shedden running 6th and team-mate Matt Neal running 9th.

Rob Austin performing well in the WIX Racing Audi A4

At the half way stage, Rob Austin's WIX Racing Audi A4 was still the fastest car on the track with Sam Tordoff 2nd in the MG6, Andrew Jordan's Honda Civic 3rd and Jason Plato's MG6 4th. With the eBay Motors BMW 125i M Sports still lacking pace, Colin Turkington was running 7th with team-mate Rob Collard 8th.

With 14 minutes of the session remaining, Sam Tordoff set the fastest time whilst Jeff Smith was now the quickest of the Honda Civics for Pirtek Racing. With 9 minutes remaining, Frank Wrathall caused the session to red-flagged whist his Dynojet Toyota Avensis was moved out of harm's way. When the session resumed, Andrew Jordan went 3rd fastest in his Pirtek Racing Honda Civic.

Andrew Jordan was the fastest of the Honda Civics

With 6 minutes left on the clock, Jason Plato produced the kind of lap that had eluded him in the earlier practice sessions and went top of the time sheets ahead of team-mate Sam Tordoff. Nobody could beat the MG duo in the time remaining, meaning Jason Plato had secured pole position for the first race tomorrow with Sam Tordoff 2nd and MG KX Momentum Racing had a front row lockout which is just what the team needed after their disappointing results at Knockhill.

Rob Austin continued his run of good form by qualifying his WIX Racing Audi A4 in 3rd place. Andrew Jordan was the fastest of the Honda Civics and secured 4th place ahead of fellow Civic drivers Gordon Shedden in 5th, Jeff Smith in 6th and Matt Neal in 7th. Dave Newsham qualified his Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Avensis 8th ahead of Colin Turkington who was the fastest of the eBay Motors BMWs in 9th. Will Bratt completed the top 10 in the Rob Austin Racing Audi A4.

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