Photo: PSP Images

Jason Plato tops Brands first free practice

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Championship leader Jason Plato has started the 2010 British Touring Car Championship finale weekend at Brands Hatch fastest. The Chevrolet driver lapped the short Indy-circuit in 49.022 during the first free practice session, just 0.082 seconds faster than title rival Gordon Shedden.

Rob Collard was third fastest, a bit of a gap behind the top duo. Collard was 0.245 seconds slower than Plato.

Second closest title rival, Tom Onslow-Cole, was fourth fastest, just three thousands of a second behind Collard.

Airwaves BMW-team mates Mat Jackson and Steven Kane amazingly enough managed to set the exact same time, 49.274.

Matt Neal, who is second in the championship, only managed tenth fastest time, close to four tenths off Plato’s time.

James Thompson made the first appearance of the all-new NGTC specification Toyota Avensis during the session. Thompson was well off pace though, close to three seconds off in the prototype car.

Ben Collins, or “The Stig”, was also well down the order in 25th and last position. The Airwaves BMW-driver just did five laps and was 4.334 seconds off pace.