The Independent Eurotech squad set an impressive pace in the second BTCC practice session at Thruxton, Andrew Jordan comfortably leading the way ahead of team-mate Jeff Smith.
The duo led the way in their privateer Honda Civics for much of the running as they displayed an exhibition-like performance during the course of the 40-minute session, the Pirtek pair clocking 33 laps between them as Jordan’s mid-session effort proved to be the untouchable lap of second practice.
The time of 1m17.811s by Jordan set at the midway stage of the session would not be challenged for the remainer of proceedings, the reigning Independent champion looking in fine form heading into qualifying at the track he secured pole at the previous year, ending free practice 0.430s ahead of his own team-mate.
Smith gave the Pirtek Racing squad much to grin about as he showed impressive pace to finish second, with only Matt Neal improving late on to take third place and make it a Honda Civic 1-2-3 despite the session starting in shakey fashion for the triple champion, having stopped on the track early on with an electrical glitch.
A red flag stoppage followed to retrieve the stricken Civic but Neal was able to return to action in the final 15 minutes, team-mate Gordon Shedden fairing worse as he spent a large portion of the session in the garage on his way to finishing just 13th as a result.
Fourth went the way of a rapid Adam Morgan for Ciceley Racing to further confirm Toyota’s strong showing at the Hampshire track so far, beating Jason Plato‘s MG and Tom Onslow-Cole‘s much-improving Team HARD Volkswagen Passat which finished encouragingly in the top six.
Seventh went to the second KX Momentum Racing MG6 of first practice pace-setter Sam Tordoff, ahead of two eBay Motors BMWs of Colin Turkington and Rob Collard, the top 10 rounded out by the Speedworks Toyota of Dave Newsham.
The S2000 class was dominated by Liam Griffin who displayed some strong pace with the Addison Lee-backed Motorbase Ford Focus ST, finishing the session more than seven tenths clear of James Kaye’s Volkswagen Golf and Lea Wood’s Vauxhall Vectra.
