Dan Rowbottom secures Thruxton pole

Dan Rowbottom secured his second pole of the 2021 BTCC season to complete a clean sweep for Honda drivers in the Saturday sessions at Thruxton.

The Team Dynamics driver was one of the main contenders for pole throughout the session having been one of the early pace-setters once the action kicked off, quickly dropping under the 1:16s marker during the first timed runs.

Jake Hill then edged ahead of the Honda driver at the wheel of his Ford Focus as he looked to try and secure his first pole of the campaign and looked well placed to earn his place at the head of the field as his rivals failed to find the time required to get ahead.

Rowbottom however – who had dropped down to third behind Josh Cook – was able to improve enough to get back ahead, setting a time that was just 0.086s better than Hill to take a second pole to add to the one he secured at Brands Hatch earlier in the season.

Hill would retain second place for his best qualifying result of the campaign and he now holds the best qualifying average of the season having earned a first front row start in the Focus.

Cook took third place ahead of Rory Butcher, who was impressive once again in the Speedworks-run Toyota Corolla although he suffered a scare on his final flying lap when forced to take avoiding action when he came across one of the Laser Tools Infinitis running slow ahead on track.

Tom Oliphant was the best rear-wheel drive car in fifth spot ahead of Adam Morgan, with championship leader Ash Sutton managing to carry his ballast heavy car to a solid seventh – enabling him to qualify ahead of his main championship rivals.

Dan Lloyd was eighth to match his best result of the season to date, with Colin Turkington and Senna Proctor rounding out the top ten.

Tom Ingram would manage twelfth in his Hyundai but there was disappointment for practice pace-setter Gordon Shedden who could only manage the 14th best time.

Shedden had been on a quick lap before being forced to pit with smoking front brakes, whilst there were issues for two Laser Tools cars; Aiden Moffat picking up a puncture and Carl Boardley having a spin at turn one.