Matt Neal leads Shedden in FP1 at Brands Hatch

Matt Neal was fastest in the wet first free practice session at Brands Hatch ahead of championship leading team-mate Gordon Shedden. Andrew Jordan was the fastest independent with Jason Plato fourth.

Neal left it to the last few minutes to set a flying lap and pip team-mate Shedden by just under half a second, with Andrew Jordan completing a Honda top three with the Eurotech Racing Honda in third.

The circuit was very damp from overnight rain and didn’t dry, meaning the times were consistent throughout and well over ten seconds away from the lap records set at the circuit by Tom Chilton (qualifying) and Jason Plato (race).

Frank Wrathall’s Dynojet Toyota and Tony Gilham’s Team HARD Vauxhall only completed three installation laps and sat out the majority of the session.

Will Bratt was fifth fastest in the Rob Austin Racing Audi A4 with Mat Jackson sixth fastest in the Ford Focus ST of Motorbase Performance.

Dave Newsham missed the first half of the session but was able to go seventh fastest and end up as the highest placed Super 2000-spec car. Dan Welch was eighth in his Proton, with Aron Smith ninth and Ollie Jackson tenth.

Free Practice 2 takes place at 11:55 BST.