Having predicted that the SEAT Leon TDi could be one to watch at
Snetterton,
Jason Plato set the pace on the opening day of two-day test for the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at the Norfolk circuit.
Plato posted a time of 1min 12.100secs during the afternoon session to allow him to edge out team-mate Darren Turner to top spot, with Turner quickly settling back into the front-wheel drive BTCC machine following his successful outing for Aston Martin Racing in the Le Mans 24 Hours. His best time, which was the quickest set during the morning, was just 0.038secs behind Plato – with both Leon TDis lapping quicker than Colin Turkington managed last year en-route to pole position.
The two SEAT drivers ended the day half a second clear of the rest of the field, led by defending champion Fabrizio Giovanardi. The Italian, who currently leads the championship standings by 23 points going into the second half of the season, posted his fastest time during the afternoon session and was just two-hundredths of a second clear of former team-mate Tom Chilton in the Team Halfords Honda Civic.
Colin Turkington, fresh from his double win last time out at
Croft, was fifth quickest ahead of Gordon Shedden, with Rob Collard and Harry Vaulkhard rounding out the top eight – the latter producing an impressive performance in the Robertshaw Racing Chevrolet Lacetti.
Adam Jones and Stephen Jelley completed the top ten, ahead of
Matt Neal,
Mat Jackson, Andrew Jordan, Steven Kane and Mike Jordan.
The younger Jordan also had a brief run in one of the Team Halfords Civics, although he could only complete a handful of laps and didn't set a representative lap-time due to technical issues on the car.
Testing continues tomorrow, but without both Vauxhall and Team Halfords who were working through a single day programme. Both Arkas Racing and Team JAG will join the test on its second day.
