For that event, cars were allowed to run around the oval and then rejoin the race in the position they had held before their off-track excursion – but the same rules won't apply to the touring car brigade this weekend.
"If people go round the oval, they'll get a two lap penalty," series director Alan Gow said. "If they want to go round the oval and take the penalty then it's their choice but why bother? They can just rejoin the track where they went off."
Saturday pm – Father and Son
Having been forced to run with 'Old Man' and 'Young Man' on their cars at Brands Hatch, Mike and Andrew Jordan have been given new names for the Rockingham weekend by series boss Alan Gow.
This weekend, Mike will run under the banner of 'Dad' with Andrew as 'Son'.
It remains to be seen what will be thrown at the pair when we head to
Donington Park.
Saturday am – A jump start?
Anyone who saw the GP2 Asia feature race in Dubai on Friday would have noticed that one car seemed to start the race before any of the others – by quite a noticeable margin.
However, despite being given a drive through penalty, Stephen Jelley insisted he wasn't too quick; everyone else was too slow.
"I didn't jump the start – honestly!" he said. "I went when I should have done, but nobody else did!"
Following an 18th place finish in his final race in the series for ART Grand Prix, it was then a mad dash to make it back to Northamptonshire in time for the first practice session – which he just managed.
"I got here with five minutes to spare I think," he said. "I managed to get some sleep on the plane but then when I got here this morning it was a case of, brush the teeth, get the race suit on and get in the car!"
Jelley was a solid eighth in the first session.
Saturday am – Getting a boost
Micky Doyle would never pretend to be the tallest driver in the BTCC paddock, but only at Rockingham did it become apparent of an issue the young Scot had endured during the opening round at
Brands Hatch.
When asked how he felt first practice had gone, Doyle's quick reply was 'Well I can see now'.
