Josh Cook tops BTCC qualifying at Thruxton

Credit: BTCC

Qualifying got underway at the unique Thruxton circuit, which is of course the fastest circuit in the United Kingdom, with Group A taking to the track first. The headlines heading into this weekend, were the returns of Ryan Bensley, replacing Max Buxton at Speedworks, and additional enteries for PMR and WSR in the form of Nick Halstead and debutant Lewis Gilbert respectively. It was also announced this morning that NAPA Racing UK’s Sam Osborne would withdraw from action this weekend due to medical issues, and would be replaced by the teams’ reserve driver, Senna Proctor.

It was WSR’s Charles Rainford who topped the timings early in the first session as the majority of Group A pitted for a tyre cross. Ash Sutton then went quickest, but was quickly usurped by teammate Dan Cammish, who set a 1:15.649. Plato Racing’s Adam Morgan then rose to the top, going a tenth and half quicker than Cammish.

The most successful driver around Thruxton in a BTCC car, with an incredible ten wins, Josh Cook, then improved to a 1:15.219 aboard his Speedworks Toyota. As everyone went for their second runs, with just a handful of minutes remaining in Group A, Sutton improved his laptime, but only to fourth place. The championship leader likely suffering from his lack of boost. Morgan also improved his laptime, but remained in second and subsequently lost the lap due to track limits.

A yellow flag was then shown on the exit of Church corner as Lewis Selby had a moment off track, appearing to keep the car out of the barriers. Cammish improved to second, meanwhile, Rainford had a sizeable spin after running wide as he remained second slowest in the session. The session ended with Cook topping the opening group ahead of Cammish, Morgan and Sutton, with Dan Rowbottom completing the top five. He was followed by Team VERTU’s Tom Chilton, Selby, Chris Smiley, Bensley, Rainford and Gilbert.

Credit: BTCC

It wasn’t long till Group B got underway, with eyes on Proctor as he makes his return to the championship after racing with Team VERTU last season. Gordon Shedden’s bonnet then brought drama to the session as it flew up, obstructing his view. Tom Ingram rose to the top initially, and improved to a 1:15.671 on his second lap. Ricky Collard then moved to second just 0.033 behind his teammate. He would later lose this lap time. This left Proctor in second ahead of PMR’s Mikey Doble.

Restart Racing’s James Dorlin then brought out the yellow flags in a similar fashion to Selby, spinning out of Church corner as the session headed into the final minutes. Doble also had a spin coming out of the same corner. Ingram opted not return to the track and in the end would remain quickest in Group B ahead of Proctor, Doble, Collard and Dorlin. Then came Shedden, Árón Taylor-Smith, Aiden Moffat, Daryl DeLeon, Dexter Patterson and Nicolas Hamilton.

Cook’s lap time was quicker so he will therefore start the Race to Pole from first, alongside Ingram. The second and the third rows will be made up of Cammish, Proctor, Morgan and Doble. Sutton, Collard, Rowbottom and Dorlin will complete the top ten on the grid for the qualifying race.