eBay Motors (WSR) Rob Collard set the pace in the second British Touring Car Championship practice session at Knockhill in Scotland, beating the morning’s pace setter Gordon Shedden to the top time.
Collard, who is presently fifth in the championship, had earlier been third fastest in the morning’s first practice session. He set a time of 52.910 seconds half-way through second practice, lapping faster than the current qualifying lap record. Honda’s Shedden was second fastest, 0.182 seconds further back.
The winner of the previous race at Snetterton, Scot Dave Newsham, was third fastest just 0.273 seconds off Collard’s pace. Fourth was the Pirtek Motorsport Honda of Andrew Jordan who was again within half a second of the top time.
Nick Foster ensured that the strong day continued for the West Surrey Racing team as he put his BMW fifth fastest, although Tom Onslow-Cole, who had been second in first practice, could only manage six laps and ended the session down in 18th. The 25 year-old suffered an off in his BMW 320si and, whilst his car was undamaged, he was unable to continue in the session.
Speedworks’ duo Adam Morgan and Paul O’Neill ended the 40-minute session in sixth and seventh, continuing their impressive pace around the Knockhill circuit.
Jeff Smith improved on his 12th fastest time in FP1 to go eighth fastest in FP2, whilst Mat Jackson and Matt Neal completed the top ten.
Jason Plato could only manage 14th fastest and almost nine tenths off the pace in his MG6, with his team-mate Andy Neate just behind him in 15th.
Despite all four Honda drivers making it into the top ten, the NGTC Civics were once again the slowest four cars through both speed traps at the circuit, with Neal 5.1 mph slower than the fastest man, Árón Smith, at the sector 2 speed trap. All four Honda’s have been forced to run with lower turbo boost allowances than their rivals.
Qualifying takes place at 15:05 GMT and UK-based fans can watch the action live at www.itv.com/touringcars.