Having shown solid pace during the off-season, it's not been the easiest start to the weekend for the SEAT Cupra Leon R title-winner after he finished 17th in first practice – but he wasn't making excuses.
"I bottled it and spun," he said, "and I messed up my lap on new tyres. I'm struggling a little bit and I'm slower than my testing times so I know there is more to come from me and from the car. It's just down to me to sort it out."
Saturday pm – The waiting game
Quickest in pre-season testing and right at the sharp end in both practice sessions – but
Mat Jackson says there is more to come from the
BMW Dealer Team UK squad.
In fact, Mat thinks there is more to come from everyone.
"P4 in the first session and P2 in the second session is a reasonable start," he said, "but we haven't seen people show their hand yet. We'll have to wait and see how it pans out.
"We did a 49.1secs in that second session and that won't put us miles away – but you'll have to wait and see if we have more to come."
Saturday pm – The rumbling begins
The first qualifying session of the season hasn't even taken place yet, but comments are already being made about how the diesel SEATs will stack up against the rest of the field.
Plenty of people feel that the team has sandbagged during its testing so far, with one outspoken member of the paddock believing that
Jason Plato and Darren Turner will have the edge over the rest of the field.
"Its crazy that we have to run heavier here than if we were in the WTCC [compared to the diesel Leon]," Team Halfords team chief Steve Neal said. "We've not seen what that car can do yet and if they don't go out and get pole position then they are doing something wrong.
"You put Yvan Muller into that car and you wouldn't see it for dust..."
Saturday pm – Integras injured
The Honda Integra has long been regarded as one of the most bullet proof cars on the BTCC grid, but it didn't stop two of them hitting problems in the second practice session.
John George was first in the wars in the TH Motorsport car, returning to the pits with just two laps under his belt.
"The gear selector broke, but hopefully it's all fixed now," he said before turning his focus to how its gone for him and the team so far. "Our pre-season has gone well and in testing here we were about half a second than last season so it's looking good.
