Team ES Racing’s Dave Newsham once again showed impressive pace by topping the second British Touring Car Championship practice session at Donington Park.
The Scot, who took pole position last time out at Brands Hatch, lapped the East Midlands’ circuit in 1 minute 10.967 seconds to beat Matt Neal to the top of the times.
Newsham posted his time in the first half of the session and held on to the top top spot for the remainder, sending out a signal to the opposition that he is a genuine front-runner for 2012. Neal’s best time was just 0.050 seconds shy, however.
Jason Plato was third fastest, with Andrew Jordan fourth. Mat Jackson, in the NGTC engined S2000 Ford Focus, and Gordon Shedden, in the new NGTC Honda Civic, posted the fifth and sixth fastest times respectively.
Rob Austin was seventh fastest, with the Audi driver being the first to set a competitive time and top the session. Árón Smith again featured inside the top ten, with the Irishman setting the eighth fastest time.
eBay Motors drivers Rob Collard and Tom Onslow-Cole completed the top ten in their WSR-run BMWs respectively.
The session was briefly disrupted towards the end when rookie Adam Morgan went off on the inside of the Old Hairpin – the Speedworks racer having a difficult day so far after an off at the same location in the first session.
Qualifying takes place this afternoon at 1525 GMT and for UK users is broadcast live online at www.itv.com.touringcars.