Tom Ingram takes first bragging rights at Brands Hatch

Tom Ingram topped the times for Speedworks as the new BTCC season kicked off with the opening practice session of the year at Brands Hatch.

A relatively low-key 40 minutes of running saw the Toyota man repeat his pace-setting performance from the media day at Donington Park; posting a best of 48.164secs.

That time was good enough to leave Ingram just over a tenth of a second clear of the first of the WSR-run BMWs, with Rob Collard slotting into second spot and Andrew Jordan just behind in third.

It marked an encouraging start for the team with the new-for-2017 BMW engine, which was being run in Jordan’s car for the first time.

Adam Morgan slotted into fourth in the first of the Mercedes A-Class, with the similar car of Aiden Moffat having led the way in the early stages.

The Scot would be the cause of the only red flag of the session however when he lost a wheel and went into the gravel at Clearways. It meant the Laser Tools-backed car would end up 31st on the times – ahead only of Josh Price’s Subaru.

Quickest of the five rookies on the grid was Will Burns in 18th spot in his Team HARD.-run VW, whilst a number of big name drivers failed to set representative times,

That included Matt Neal, who only jumped up to 17th in the closing moments having spent much of the session topping up the times, and Jason Plato, who was down in 30th spot.