Fabrizio Giovanardi posted the quickest time in the opening practice session at the fourth round of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship kicked off at
Thruxton.
The Italian, who clinched the title during the final rounds of the 2007 campaign at the high-speed Hampshire circuit, posted a fastest time of 1min 18.359secs during the session despite suffering a front-left puncture that forced him to return slowly to the pits about half way though the 40 minutes of running.
Giovanardi ended the session two-tenths of a second proclaimed Thruxton expert Tom Chilton who attacked the kerbs with his customary gusto en-route to the second fastest time at the wheel of the Team Halfords Honda Civic.
Tom Onslow-Cole, fresh from his triple podium at Donington Park and on the weekend he celebrates his 21st birthday, was third fastest in the second of the Vectras.
With SEAT Sport needing to find out how the diesel Leon will manage its tyres at the highly abrasive venue, Darren Turner was one of the busiest drivers during the session as he wracked up 23 laps on his way to fourth, ahead of
Colin Turkington and Gordon Shedden.
Jason Plato, Andy Jordan,
Matt Neal and Mike Jordan completed the top ten.
The session didn't pass without problems for a few drivers on track, with Steven Kane failing to set a time due to power steering issues on his Motorbase
BMW and Chris Stockton damaging the radiator on his BTC Racing SEAT after a trip onto the grass at Church.
Michael Doyle returned to the pits with a very ill-sounding Honda Civic, while John George managed just seven laps at the wheel of his repaired Honda Integra following his shunt-filled weekend last time out at
Donington.
Harry Vaulkhard meanwhile endured a spin coming out of Goodwood, spinning round four times before coming to rest on the inside of Church.
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