Ash Sutton immediately made an impression on the TCR UK field as the reigning BTCC champion topped the times on his first outing in the Honda Civic Type R, going almost a second clear of Ollie Taylor.
Sutton had never driven the new FK8-spec Civic before Friday, but the BTCC regular was immediately on the pace, going fastest when he took to the track in the afternoon session.
TCR UK race winner Taylor was second in his Pyro Motorsport variant, whilst runaway series leader Dan Lloyd was third, over a second back in the Volkswagen which must carry 60 kg of compensation weight – 40 kg more than the Hondas.
Swedish duo Andreas and Jessica Bäckman were fourth and fifth respectively, with the latter almost 2.5 seconds off the pace.
Stewart Lines was the leading CUPRA driver in sixth, ahead of the best-placed Alfa Romeo of Derek Palmer in seventh.
The second Maximum Motorsport CUPRA of Carl Swift was eighth, whilst Lewis Kent’s Hyundai and Robert Gilmour’s Alfa Romeo completed the top ten.
TCR UK newcomer Tim Docker was slowest of all in 11th, 4.7 seconds off the pace around the Oulton Park International circuit.
Free practice takes place at 09:00 BST on Saturday followed by qualifying and both races later in the day.
Session results
| POS | NO | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 88 | Ashley SUTTON |  |
Verizon Connect Racing | Honda Civic Type-R FK8 TCR | 14 | 1:43.262 | 0.000 |
| 2 | 32 | Oliver TAYLOR | |
Pyro Motorsport | Honda Civic Type-R FK8 TCR | 20 | 1:44.151 | 0.889 |
| 3 | 23 | Dan LLOYD | |
WestCoast Racing | Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR | 23 | 1:44.585 | 1.323 |
| 4 | 19 | Andreas BÄCKMAN |  |
WestCoast Racing | Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR | 26 | 1:44.873 | 1.611 |
| 5 | 26 | Jessica BÄCKMAN | |
WestCoast Racing | Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR | 30 | 1:45.717 | 2.455 |
| 6 | 95 | Stewart LINES | |
Maximum Motorsport | CUPRA TCR V3 DSG | 27 | 1:46.141 | 2.879 |
| 7 | 61 | Derek PALMER | |
DPE Motorsport | Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR | 20 | 1:46.142 | 2.880 |
| 8 | 45 | Carl SWIFT | |
Endurance Financial Racing | CUPRA TCR V3 DSG | 19 | 1:46.143 | 2.881 |
| 9 | 38 | Lewis KENT | |
Essex & Kent Motorsport | Hyundai i30 N TCR | 21 | 1:46.162 | 2.900 |
| 10 | 76 | Robert GILMOUR | |
DPE Motorsport | Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR | 9 | 1:47.509 | 4.247 |
| 11 | 27 | Tim DOCKER | |
Maximum Motorsport | Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR | 30 | 1:48.001 | 4.739 |