Max Hall sets the pace on opening day of BTCC testing at Croft

Un-Limited Motorsport’s Max Hall laid down his marker to the rest of the field on the first day of official British Touring Car Championship testing at Croft by topping the times in his Cupra Leon.

In bright and sunny conditions, the rookie dipped under last year’s qualifying lap record to set a best time of 1:20.532s in the afternoon session.

The teenager ended the day just 0.029s ahead of Alliance Racing’s Dan Cammish, while reigning champion Jake Hill was a further 0.010s adrift in his West Surrey Racing BMW in third.

Tom Ingram and Mikey Doble completed the overall top-five as they too also posted lap times well under the lap record benchmark that was set last season.

Four-time title winner Ash Sutton had been the driver to beat during the morning test session. His time of 1:21.047s netted him the sixth fastest time of the day.

Fellow multiple champion Gordon Shedden was up next in seventh as he continued to get acquainted with the Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Corolla GR Sport, while Josh Cook and One Motorsport were eighth as the Honda Civic Type R returned to action.

Completing the top ten was Adam Morgan and the returning Ronan Pearson.

A total of 22 of the 24 confirmed drivers for this season set times around the North Yorkshire venue, with EXCELR8 Motorsport’s Tom Chilton and Michael Crees both not in attendance.

In addition, former race winner Rory Butcher – who is driver-coach for Sam Osborne – was handed a run-out in the Ford Focus ST during the afternoon session.

The BTCC is set to stage the second and final day of official testing at Croft tomorrow, with two more sessions slated to take place.