Ash Sutton has been penalised for his move on Colin Turkington in Round 26. He has received a time penalty and their finishing positions have been reversed as a result.
As this is Sutton's third penalty strike of the season he will be starting Round 27 from the back of the grid.
Adrian Flux Subaru Racing appealed the decision and stewards reviewed this prior to Round 27.
The original decision stood following the appeal.
Jack Goff returned the favour on race one winner Tom Ingram as the Eurotech Racing driver claimed a hugely popular and impressive win in the second BTCC bout at Silverstone.
The battle for the final podium position may have major implications on the race for the title as championship leader Ash Sutton made a last gasp move by rival Colin Turkington to take the place.
Ingram's Toyota made another stellar getaway as the pole position man fended off Goff's Honda off the line. The Type R racer hounded the Avensis in the early running, however, and made a firm move stick into Becketts on lap three. Goff then went on take a dominant victory – his first for Eurotech Racing.
"The second one took a little while to come," said Goff. "It’s been over two years now! It’s for all the Eurotech guys – we’ve had a tough time with Jeff (Smith)’s accident and it’s for all our sponsors too. I watched some old footage of Andy (Jordan) and Jason (Plato) back and I saw that at turn one we might get a bit of help with the softer compound tyre. The car was fantastic.
"It’s usually pretty good but performance over the race distance is sometimes our downfall. It was great there though even with ballast. The first NGTC pole for a Honda here and a first win for Jeff as team boss. Brilliant!"
Ingram fell slightly into the clutches of the chasing back but the scrapping behind enabled him to hang on to second.
"With 75kgs on a hard tyre it was never going to be a fantastic combination, so to come away second just behind Jack (Goff), I’m made up with it," confirmed Ingram. "I was fully aware of those guys just behind me and I felt I was struggling from lap eight or so. Colin (Turkington) was on the same tyre as us and I knew we’d be fairly comparable and Ash was working his way through so it was only a matter of time really."
Adam Morgan's Mercedes held third early on but he was muscled down the order and as the chequered flag was being readied we faced a nail biting title clash between Turkington and Sutton. Team BMW's Turkington was rightly in defensive mode as Sutton nosed his Subaru down the inside into Luffield on the final tour, and the former couldn't hang on as the young standings leader completed the pass on the approach to Woodcote.
"Got to save the best ‘til last as they say!" said Sutton. "It’s great to be back on the podium at our weakest track, so we’re pleased with that one. It was one of those calculated risks. I made a clean move around the outside into Brooklands and I got pushed off the track. I can’t just disappear, and I was more than a car-length alongside. Sometimes you have to accept you’ve lost a battle. It could be really important at the end of the season – you have to take those risks sometimes."
Rob Austin and Adam Morgan renewed an old rivalry for fifth place. An agressive defence from Morgan's A-Class led to minor contact at one stage before Austin eventually sweeped past in the Handy Motorsport Toyota.
Reigning champion Gordon Shedden kept his feint title chances alive with a seventh place finish, ahead of the impressive Rob Huff. The former World Touring Car Champion is filling in for the recovering Tom Chilton this weekend and Huff showed all of his class in the Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall.
Dave Newsham took ninth for BTC Norlin Racing, and with it pole position for the reverse grid race later today, whilst Micheal Epps grabbed his second top ten finish of the day.
2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 26 – Silverstone
1 Jack GOFF (GBR) Eurotech Racing 22 laps
2 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +4.910s
3 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +5.528s
4 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +5.703s
5 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +7.749s
6 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +8.438s
7 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +8.680s
8 Rob HUFF (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +9.038s
9 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +9.260s
10 Michael EPPS (GBR) TAG Racing +9.547s
11 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +10.942s
12 Brett SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +11.707s
13 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +11.815s
14 Aron TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +15.096s
15 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +15.149s
16 Josh PRICE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +16.436s
17 Jake HILL (GBR) TAG Racing +17.303s
18 Josh COOK (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +17.688s
19 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +18.015s
20 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +18.017s
21 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +18.418s
22 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +19.902s
23 Ant WHORTON-EALES (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +21.607s
24 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +22.048s
25 Stewart LINES (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +22.302s
26 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +22.586s
27 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +1 lap
NC Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +5 laps
DNF Mat JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +16 laps
DNF Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +16 laps
Tom Ingram took an early lead from pole-sitter Jack Goff in the opening BTCC contest at Silverstone before the Speedworks Motorsport star went on to claim his fourth victory of the season.
Eurotech Racing's Goff kept Ingram honest throughout with the young duo separated by less than a second for much of the race, but the Toyota man would hang on until a red flag ended the encounter prematurely due to a high-speed accident further down the field.
Adam Morgan grabbed an impressive – if not lonely – third place finish, as the Mercedes man initially lost touch from the lead pairing but also pulled clear of the chasing pack.
The fight for fourth provided the main bulk of the action with the likes of Jake Hill, Mat Neal, Mat Jackson, Ant Whorton-Eales scrapping for position.
Neal and Jackson's challenge ended after contact approaching the start/finish line, whilst Whorton-Eales took control of the place as Turkington's BMW fell down the order when rain entered proceedings on lap six.
Turkington fought back as the conditions settled and he would eventually squeeze his BMW 125i M Sport by Whorton-Eales' Audi in the latter half of the bout. Unfortunately for Turkington, however, was the fact that main title rival Ash Sutton was right behind him at the finish – reducing the impact that Turkington could make on the points deficit.
The race ending moment effectively came on lap 14 when a high-speed multi-car clash first brought about a safety car period, before the race was later red flagged in order for recovery and medical teams to complete their procedures.
The accident occurred when Chris Smiley's Chevrolet touched Aron Taylor-Smith's MG on the run down to Maggotts. Rob Collard's BMW was collected in the melee and his damaged machine left the track, slid wildly across the grass, before firing back across the circuit at Becketts. An unsighted Will Burns (VW) then slammed into Collard's car, with Andrew Jordan (BMW) also unfortunately involved, ending the trio's respective efforts and eventually resulting in the race being cut short.
Collard and Burns are both being taken to hospital for precautionary measures, with the latter facing rib injuries, and neither driver will take part for the remainder of the day.
When the clear up was complete it was Whorton-Eales in sixth – his best ever BTCC result – whilst BTC Norlin Racing's Dave Newsham and Laser Tools Racing's Aiden Moffat both produced heroics to take seventh and eight respectively. Chevrolet driver Newsham rose impressively from 15th on the grid, whilst Moffat stormed his way through from 23rd.
Handy Motorsport's Rob Austin held ninth on the harder compound Dunlop tyre, which should stand him in good stead for the two further races later today, whilst Michael Epps provided some respite for the Team HARD stable with a top ten finish.
Tom Ingram said: "It was a bit of a strange one with that late incident. We had that safety car and you’re just focusing on where you need to drop the hammer and on keeping temperatures up. I got the jump on the restart and all of a sudden, I got the call that there would be a red flag. I really didn’t expect to start as well as I did as the right side of the grid was wet. I thought I’d be down in fourth or fifth but when they matter I seem to be able to pull them out of the bag. When the rain came down, it was the hardest thing. I had a huge moment at Copse. As soon as I hit the brakes, I slid on and the worst place to be is the lead in that situation as everyone uses you as a judge of the conditions and inevitably it’s the leader that falls off. To take another overall win as well as the Independents’ win is fantastic to get us back on track after that mid-season dip."
Jack Goff said: "It all happened at the start really. We knew it was damp and we just picked up too much wheel-spin. I saw Tom (Ingram) was past and I had to give up that position. It wasn’t too bad to start with but it was a little bit greasy into turn one. Then the rain started to come down. Adam (Morgan) seemed strong into turn two on the brakes and he was hunting us down but we were able to keep the car on track. We started to catch Tom (Ingram) just as the safety car came out and it was starting to dry but the red flag obviously put an end to it."
Adam Morgan said: "That’s a mega start to the day for us. I got a bad start and had a coming-together with Jake Hill. I just got my head down then and chased down Jack (Goff) and Tom (Ingram). It was a bit of ‘suck it and see’ when the rain came down. I was gauging it from the guys around me. I had a bit of a look into Brooklands. We were strong there and Jack (Goff) was running a bit wide. Maybe another couple of laps and we’d have got second."
2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 25 – Silverstone
1 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport 18 laps
2 Jack GOFF (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.728s
3 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +1.754s
4 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +2.973s
5 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +3.775s
6 Ant WHORTON-EALES (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +5.107s
7 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +6.525s
8 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +7.339s
9 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +8.704s
10 Michael EPPS (GBR) TAG Racing +9.588s
11 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +11.240s
12 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +11.489s
13 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +12.661s
14 Brett SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +13.292s
15 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +14.165s
16 Rob HUFF (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +14.740s
17 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +15.572s
18 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +16.094s
19 Aron TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +18.105s
20 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +19.495s
21 Josh PRICE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +20.276s
22 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +20.830s
23 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +22.239s
24 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +1 lap
25 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +2 laps
DNF Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +4 laps
DNF Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +4 laps
DNF Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +5 laps
DNF Will BURNS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +5 laps
DNF Stewart LINES (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +6 laps
DNF Jake HILL (GBR) TAG Racing +16 laps
MG Racing RCIB Insurance has withdrawn its appeal to the National Court regarding driver Josh Cook's penalty in race three at Rockingham.
As this was his fourth penalty strike during the season, which results in a one race ban, Cook will not contest today's opening race at Silverstone.
Jack Goff claims pole position during memorable BTCC qualifying at Silverstone
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship history was made today (16 September) when the entire 32-car field was covered by less than a second – for the first time ever – in a remarkable qualifying session at Silverstone.
Eurotech Racing's Jack Goff claimed the honours, and with it his second career pole position, as he edged out Speedworks Motorsport's Tom Ingram by an incredible 0.001s. The young duo had signalled their intentions by taking the top two positions in the final practice session earlier in the afternoon, but it was roles reversed when it really mattered as Goff steered his Honda Civic Type R to a pace-setting 58.653s lap time.
"The car was pretty lairy actually but brilliant to drive," enthused Goff. "To get pole in the Type R, which isn’t as suited as some to Silverstone, is a great achievement.
"On the in-lap, I was aware how close it was. I had my best time disallowed due to exceeding track limits and that would have been a tenth up on what we finished with, so a slap on the wrist for me there. The car’s great and I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Hopefully we can get away well and have a clean race."
Adam Morgan claimed his Ciceley Motorsport Mercedes A-Class was 'on rails' as he fell short of pole position by just 0.049s, claiming third in the process, whilst triple BTCC champion Matt Neal completed the second row order.
The Team HARD stable enjoyed an extremely competitive day around the 1.64-mile National circuit as Jake Hill grabbed fifth ahead of Rob Austin's Handy Motorsport Toyota.
Ant Whorton-Eales produced his best ever qualifying performance by taking seventh for AmDTuning.com with Cobra Exhausts, with the young Lichfield driver also being the highest placed rookie in the final classification.
Aside from the sensational battle up top there was also the small detail of the BTCC title race to focus on, which saw Team BMW's Colin Turkington pipping championship leader Ash Sutton in the session. The Northern Irishman will line-up eighth with Adrian Flux Subaru Racing's Sutton in tenth.
"I’m content with qualifying," claimed Turkington. "I’m eighth so it’s hard to be beaming but all things considered, I am content. I wouldn’t say I’m happy though. The car’s feeling good and it’s a decent position to go from tomorrow. You have to fight for every point, especially at this stage of the season. Every point matters and you’ve got to be on the attack in the session, getting everything out of the car. We’ll reset tonight and see where we are in the morning. I’ll be focussing on my own game."
Wedged between the title protagonists on the timesheets was the impressive Brett Smith, in only his fourth qualifying session, as he topped off a hugely successful day for Eurotech Racing.
Jason Plato in 11th and Gordon Shedden in 12th were notable absentees from the top ten, whilst BMW man Rob Collard has it all to do to keep his title hopes alive from 22nd on the grid.
Such were the margins during the 30-minute session that Team Parker Racing's Stephen Jelley brought up the rear of the field in 32nd place – just 0.886s slower than Goff's pole position lap.
Three pulsating BTCC encounters are set to take place at the home of British motorsport tomorrow (17 October) with tens of thousands of fans likely to attend Silverstone, with many more watching the action unfold live on ITV4 from 11:00am.
2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Qualifying – Silverstone
1 Jack GOFF (GBR) Eurotech Racing 58.653s (100.68mph)
2 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +0.001s
3 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +0.049s
4 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.155s
5 Jake HILL (GBR) TAG Racing +0.164s
6 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +0.229s
7 Ant WHORTON-EALES (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +0.233s
8 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.240s
9 Brett SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.261s
10 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.277s
11 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.298s
12 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.320s
13 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.326s
14 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +0.362s
15 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.369s
16 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.389s
17 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +0.408s
18 Josh COOK (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.429s
19 Josh PRICE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.435s
20 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.445s
21 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +0.447s
22 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +0.463s
23 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +0.525s
24 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +0.526s
25 Michael EPPS (GBR) TAG Racing +0.574s
26 Will BURNS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +0.587s
27 Aron TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.617s
28 Rob HUFF (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.638s
29 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.773s
30 Stewart LINES (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +0.807s
31 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +0.842s
32 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +0.886s
Speedworks Motorsport's Tom Ingram topped the final BTCC free practice session at Silverstone, as the young Toyota star pipped Eurotech Racing's Jack Goff in the final minutes.
Goff led the way for the majority of the session after his own impressive effort in the striking red Honda Civic Type R, but Ingram would not be denied as he returned to the summit with the quickest time of the day – a 58.967s, which was the only time set in the 58 second bracket.
"That was really good," said Ingram. "We did the whole thing on old tyres, right until the end. We probably left that run a bit late if truth be told. We can always get more out of everything, so we’ll look through all the video and data and see where our strengths and weaknesses lie.
"We know we’ve a good car around here – the MGs, VWs and ourselves should be good aerodynamically here. There’s a lot more work to do but it’s been a good start."
TAG Racing's Jake Hill confirmed the potency of the VW CC with third place, whilst championship challenger Rob Collard hauled his BMW 125i M Sport up to fourth.
MG Racing RCIB Insurance's Josh Cook was next in the order, ahead of fans' favourite Rob Austin and 2013 champion Andrew Jordan.
FP1 pace-setter Jason Plato had to settle for ninth in the afternoon's dryer conditions, whilst Team BMW's Colin Turkington replicated his performance from this morning with tenth.
Qualifying for Round 25 of the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship takes place at 15:15 and will be streamed live and exclusively via www.itv.com/btcc.
2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 2 – Silverstone
1 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport 58.967s (100.15mph)
2 Jack GOFF (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.167s
3 Jake HILL (GBR) TAG Racing +0.178s
4 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +0.198s
5 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +0.220s
6 Josh COOK (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.293s
7 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +0.295s
8 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.405s
9 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.406s
10 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.410s
11 Michael EPPS (GBR) TAG Racing +0.440s
12 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +0.458s
13 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +0.498s
14 Ant WHORTON-EALES (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +0.504s
15 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.510s
16 Brett SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.517s
17 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.598s
18 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.599s
19 Josh PRICE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.608s
20 Aron TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.697s
21 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.707s
22 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.720s
23 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.721s
24 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.813s
25 Rob HUFF (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.853s
26 Will BURNS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +0.941s
27 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +1.044s
28 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +1.065s
29 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +1.089s
30 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +1.091s
31 Stewart LINES (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +1.184s
32 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +1.352s
We're well into the sharp end of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, with just six rounds to race, and Podium Predictor powered by IHG® Rewards Club returns for its penultimate outing this season at Silverstone this weekend. Be sure to get your entries in over at podiumpredictor.com now!
The BTCC Podium Predictor gives fans the chance to score bragging rights and a bundle of top-drawer prizes courtesy of longstanding championship partners IHG® Rewards Club.
If you beat the pundit you’ll be in line for a massive 50,000 IHG® Rewards Club points to spend as you wish plus signed motor sport artwork from Graham and Leigh and more special gifts. Of course, you’ll get tickets to a race weekend of your choosing, too.
In order to qualify for the ultimate prize as Ultimate Predictor – with 1,000,000 IHG® Rewards Club points up for grabs, you’ll need to predict every podium finish and all race and class fastest laps correctly, scoring the maximum 120 points.
Luke Davenport is the man in the Pundit's hot-seat this weekend and is thus the man to beat! Have a look at his predictions here:
Go to https://t.co/ta2EWDqmJ8 for my Silverstone predictions. 50,000 IHG points up for grabs! https://t.co/PKKjsT6zI8 @DunlopBTCC #IHGracing
— Luke Davenport (@LukeEDavenport) September 7, 2017
Entries are open until 2359 on Saturday evening – so you get the chance to analyse Free Practice and Qualifying before you make your predictions. Head to podiumpredictor.com to enter!
BTC Norlin Racing has announced it is to showcase Belfast City Council’s new brand identity on its race cars for the final stages of the season, after the recent launch of the authority's new look.
The outfit, which counts Carrickfergus driver Chris Smiley in its ranks, will incorporate the vibrant imagery on both of its Chevrolet Cruze cars for the last two race weekends on this year’s calendar – Silverstone and Brands Hatch respectively.
Smiley said: “It’s an honour to have the support of Belfast City Council by having this dynamic branding on our cars and it’s great for the people of Northern Ireland – I hope we can do them proud.”
Stephen Symington, team owner, said he was “absolutely delighted” to be involved as one of the first platforms to showcase the Council’s new branding.
“The branding looks fantastic on the cars and it really highlights how vibrant, lively and energetic Belfast has become in recent years," he said. "We can’t wait to display it on race day. The BTCC is broadcast internationally and I’m sure it will prove to be a hit with audiences locally as well as abroad, both trackside, online and live on television.
“It really fills us with pride that Norlin can help in launching the new branding and it makes us even more determined to bring motor racing to our great city.
"The infrastructure and facilities are in place to host large scale events, as is the hotel supply to meet such demand.”
Still in their debut season, Norlin is riding a wave of confidence from their last two outings, where they achieved three top-10 finishes.
However, the team knows this weekend’s race at Silverstone will be tough as they look to fight for every point in the Independent Drivers' Championship.
Smiley will be looking to build on his recent form – he currently sits 11th in the Independents' standings.
Jason Plato headed an Adrian Flux Subaru Racing one-two in the opening Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship free practice session at Silverstone as he edged out young gun Ash Sutton.
Plato, nearing a remarkable century of BTCC victories, has been in much better form during the second half of the 2017 season, and the Oxfordshire-based racer looks to be a front-runner at his local circuit.
"It's just slippy out there," said the BTCC's most experienced driver. "Through the last two or three laps the track was starting to evolve. There's a little more grip at Becketts and Copse but the track temperature's still down. We're going to struggle tomorrow we think. It is what it is. We make our lap time up through the bends but we will struggle during the races.
"We're having fun though. We've got all of our sponsors here tomorrow and we'll try to put on a show. Silverstone's the home of British motorsport and it produces a great atmosphere and what will be three interesting races I'm sure."
Sutton kept his consistent run going with another solid showing as he looks to maintain his championship lead this weekend, taking his advantage to the finale at Brands Hatch in two weeks time.
Arguably the star of the show was Team HARD-run Michael Epps, who led the way for much of the session in his Volkswagen CC. Epps – in his sophomore season – eventually had to settle for third when the chequered flag fell, but it was an impressive performance on a damp National Circuit.
Senna Proctor (Vauxhall Astra) and Brett Smith (Honda Civic) completed a rather surprising top five line-up as all 32-drivers acclimatised to the circuit and tricky conditions.
Two more familiar faces – in the shape of Rob Collard and Matt Neal – were next in the order, whilst Jack Goff confirmed a good showing for Eurotech Racing by taking eighth.
James Cole's recent run of good results culminated in a pole position and maiden race win last time out at Rockingham, and the Southport man hauled his Subaru to ninth in the early showing here at Silverstone.
Championship contender Colin Turkington completed the top ten order in his Team BMW 125i M Sport.
2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 1 – Silverstone
1 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing 1m05.739s (89.83mph)
2 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.250s
3 Michael EPPS (GBR) TAG Racing +0.264s
4 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.286s
5 Brett SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.321s
6 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.359s
7 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +0.399s
8 Jack GOFF (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.407s
9 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.444s
10 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.479s
11 Josh COOK (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.487s
12 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +0.510s
13 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +0.529s
14 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.555s
15 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.566s
16 Stewart LINES (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +0.641s
17 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +0.698s
18 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +0.712s
19 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.796s
20 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +0.820s
21 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +0.880s
22 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +0.919s
23 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.933s
24 Jake HILL (GBR) TAG Racing +0.939s
25 Rob HUFF (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.954s
26 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +1.081s
27 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +1.189s
28 Will BURNS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +1.248s
29 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +1.254s
30 Ant WHORTON-EALES (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +1.269s
31 Aron TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +1.388s
32 Josh PRICE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +1.963s
As previously noted in Round 24 of the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Rockingham, Josh Cook was fined £500 and received three penalty points for an incident involving Stephen Jelley. This was his fourth strike which constituted a one race ban. MG Racing RCIB Insurance appealed the decision, and the hearing took place at Silverstone today (15 September).
The clerk's original decision was upheld by the stewards in today's hearing, however, MG Racing RCIB Insurance has appealed that decision to the National Court.