The home favourite Gordon Shedden enters qualifying in the best shape of all as the Scot topped the second BTCC free practice session of the day at Knockhill.
The reigning champion set lap record-beating pace in a great battle with Adam Morgan during the 40-minute session, eventually sealing the deal with a time of 52.582s.
Hondas came to the fore in second practice it seemed, at one stage seeing a 1-2-3 for the trio of NGTC Honda Civics, Matt Neal knocking early leader Jason Plato off the top spot in the first half of the session despite carrying maximum penalty ballast for being series leader.
Neal’s time did not last as long as he had hoped however, Yuasa Racing team-mate Shedden putting himself ahead of the points leader where he looked set to stay.
The surprise package of both practice sessions proved to be Morgan, the Ciceley Racing man looking on fine form around the 1.2 mile Fife circuit as he maintained a solid top five performance before suddenly beating Shedden’s time with five minutes to go.
Shedden and the Toyota man then staged a time trial between themselves over top spot, Shedden coming out the winner as he topped practice two by 0.118s, Morgan second ahead of an improving Plato who popped up at the last moment to beat Andrew Jordan, the Pirtek Racing man joining in the battle having started the session calmly.
Neal, Sam Tordoff, Tom Onslow-Cole and Frank Wrathall were next up, Wrathall impressing within the top five for much of the session, while the Wix Racing Audis rounded out the top 10 with Rob Austin and Will Bratt.
Paul O’Neill was a sensation in the session, running as high as fourth before eventually finishing 12th ahead of another starring driver, Mike Bushell, the Club 44 Chevrolet Cruze driver claiming bragging rights for himself by beating Colin Turkington, the 2009 champion having a quiet session that saw him finish 14th and 0.7s off the pace.
Lea Wood again topped the Jack Sears Trophy contingents, with qualifying set to get underway later today at 15:05.
