Matt Neal quickest in first practice at Brands Hatch

Honda Racing Team driver Matt Neal lead the way in the first free practice session at the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit from Chevrolet’s Jason Plato.

Gordon Shedden was third fastest in the second Honda Civic, meaning the top three championship contenders were in the top three spots.

Shedden and Neal jointly lead the championship heading into this weekend and are therefore both sharing the second highest allowance of 36kg of championship success ballast, whilst Jason Plato’s Chevrolet Cruze is carrying 27kg.

Fourth fastest was Tom Boardman in the Special Tuning Racing SEAT León, who was also the top placed independent driver, with Alex MacDowall’s Cheverolet just behind in fifth.

Independents’ points leader James Nash was sixth fastest, 0.374s down on Neal’s pace setting time, with Nash’s new Triple Eight team-mate Ollie Jackson 14th on his BTCC debut.

The session was brought to an early end after just 33 minutes after an off for Frank Wrathall in the Dynojet Racing Toyota Avensis as Sheene Curve. Wrathall was 15th fastest at the time and was the fastest of the full Next Generation Touring Car (NGTC) specification cars.