Thompson fastest in Croft first practice

Local driver James Thompson made his mark at the Croft circuit in Yorkshire this morning by setting the fastest time in first free practice. The former champion was only 0.003 seconds faster than Fabrizio Giovanardi under warm clear skies. Jason Plato set the third fastest time in his Racing Silverline Chevrolet Lacetti.

Click here for full First Free Practice times.

Fourth fastest was Colin Turkington who is carrying 36kg of ballast going into the first of tomorrow’s races. Mat Jackson was fifth fastest, despite suffering suspected food poisoning overnight. Andrew Jordan was the second fastest VX Racing driver in sixth, just ahead of team-mate Matt Neal.

Stephen Jelley was eighth quickest, whilst the two Cartridge World Carbon Zero cars of Adam Jones and Dan Eaves rounded out the top ten, with Eaves surely buoyed by a return to form after a number of unlucky weekends.

Local favourite Harry Vaulkhard, also suffering food poisoning like Jackson, was down in 16th place and the slowest of all four Chevrolet’s - despite the cars being the fastest through all speed traps around the circuit.

Tom Onslow-Cole, on his first outing in the Team Aon Ford Focus, was 18th fastest and 2.074 seconds off the pace.