BTCC Croft Qualifying

[touringlegend]

Source: btcc.net

Vauxhall’s Colin Turkington was fastest in Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship qualifying at Croft today to secure pole position for the first of tomorrow’s (Sunday) three races at the North Yorkshire circuit. Once more the action will be shown during a live broadcast from 16.00 on Britain’s biggest commercial terrestrial television channel ITV1

Good on Colin for taking pole. Hope it translates into a good result for him tomorrow.

Times from msttiming.co.uk. Muller and Plato on 2nd row...I know I'll be at the first corner tomorrow...

Pole 6
Colin TURKINGTON
1:26.208

2 5
Matt NEAL
+ 0.031 1:26.239

3 2
Yvan MULLER
+ 0.033 1:26.241

4 11
Jason PLATO
+ 0.177 1:26.385

5 9
Tom CHILTON
+ 0.418 1:26.626

6 8
Dan EAVES
+ 0.448 1:26.656

7 88
Gavin SMITH
+ 0.505 1:26.713

8 10
James KAYE
+ 0.602 1:26.810

9 21
Rob COLLARD
+ 0.798 1:27.006

10 57
Luke HINES
+ 0.872 1:27.080

11 12
James PICKFORD
+ 0.900 1:27.108

12 23
Mark PROCTOR
+ 3.275 1:29.483

13 82
Fiona LEGGATE
+ 3.859 1:30.067

14 78
Ian CURLEY
+ 3.971 1:30.179

15 77
Richard WILLIAMS
+ 4.221 1:30.429

[rdjones]

Just back, interesting day. There where problems in the 1st session for James Kaye, steeering problems for Fiona Leggate (she is not as quick I expected but is getting quicker all the time) and Ian Curley (I think there was an engine change). Everyone was out for the 2nd session. As for the grid I'm ab it suprised to see Colin on Pole, but he looked quick all day. In other news Matt Neal has hurt his leg and is limping. Should be an interesting day tomorrow, photo's later.

[Hazard]

Scary is Techspeed not getting a lot of pace out of that Astra...well, that's one possibility anyway.

Good to see Triple Eight have got some more pace out of the sport hatch though!

P2 to P5, Neal, Muller, Plato & Chilton...I don't think the first corner can handle that much ego!

[touringlegend]

Just remembered Triple 8 have said they expect Croft and Knockhill to be two of the better tracks for them as they are both high grip circuits.

[rdjones]

Originally Posted by Hazard

Scary is Techspeed not getting a lot of pace out of that Astra...well, that's one possibility anyway.

It's there first time and they did lose the whole of the 1st session, but as the day has gone on Fiona has got quicker and at 1 point in the second session she was finding a second a lap.

[pitcrew]

cheers for the updates i agree the first corner will be good fun !! good luck to rob collard

[rdjones]

I have sorted out an upload my photos from today they can be found here

[touringlegend]

Really like Fiona Leggate's Astra, one lairy paint job. (although it is the same as last years Vauxhall colours, except in green..)

[Hazard]

Techspeed ran Bentwood last year...quite well considering. They were just probably the most unlucky team on the grid.

It's nice to see the Astra back in VX Racing colours...even if it looks like my TV's blown a colour tube! It's also good to see it bolstering the economy class grid...just between the Fast-tec Astra and the HPI Racing Lexus.

[JLD]

Originally Posted by Hazard

Scary is Techspeed not getting a lot of pace out of that Astra

Don't forget that it's running on Bio-ethanol rather than standard petrol. Although the engine is mainly standard, it has had to have some parts modified in order to use the new fuel. I'd guess that they are still developing it.