The second BTCC practice session at Croft this afternoon has been cancelled prematurely after an accident for Adam Morgan, the BMW of Rob Collard topping the times in an almost meaningless session prior to qualifying.
The session started in tricky conditions as rain began to fall around the North Yorkshire venue, the weather getting progressively worse during the first 10 minutes.
In that time, the rear-wheel drive BMWs and Audis went to the head of the timesheets as their rivals decided not to venture out early for a competitive lap time, Collard’s early 1m29.075s lap proving ultimately to be the fastest time of the session after he endured the best of the conditions in the eBay Motors BMW 125i.
Rob Austin had briefly held that spot, but he was bumped to second before the rain came down with more venom shortly after, the Audi driver dropping to third behind Mat Jackson as the session became a wet weather test for drivers.
Will Bratt finished fourth in the second Audi A4 behind his team-mate, Nick Foster and Colin Turkington‘s BMWs ending fifth and sixth before the session was brought to a halt when Morgan went off the road at Clervaux nearing the halfway mark and ploughed into the barriers, having been lying eighth overall.
The Ciceley Racing Toyota Avensis was removed but their was significant enough damage done to the turn one barriers to bring proceedings to a premature end, meaning drivers now go into qualifying with the luxury of just one practice session under their belt.
12 drivers did not complete a competitive flying lap in the brief session, amongst them including both Yuasa Honda drivers, both Eurotech Hondas and the two Triple Eight MGs.
James Cole was the only driver not to even make it out onto the track, his Vauxhall Insignia undergoing driveshaft and engine treatment to get the Team HARD man out for qualifying.
– Qualifying gets underway at 15:10 it is expected, and you can follow it with us here and on Twitter at tcfBTCC.
