Colin Turkington claimed his first top qualifying spot this season during a close session for tomorrow’s opening race at Knockhill.
A dry and cloudy set the fight for pole position to be close at one of the shortest and most exhaubrant circuits on the calendar.
All 29 drivers were using the soft slick compound because it is set to be the fastest tyre for this weekend.
The rear-wheel drive BMWs and Infinitis handled their weight ballasts better than the front-wheel drive runners at a short, demanding circuit as Knockhill.
Just 8 minutes into the 30-minute session, a red flag was deployed after Rick Parfitt straight lined himself over the chicane by hitting the curb, thus launching into the gravel trap.
He drove away, but as per the rules, he was out of the session having caused a red flag to put himself last on the grid (with no competitive time set).
A number of drivers were pushing their laps to the limit, rallycross-style.
Several cars went off at the first corner and after the chicane, leaving no apparent damage afterwards.
Meanwhile, home-hero Gordon Shedden was consistently pushing his Honda to the limits throughout.
With 11 mins left on the timer, another red flag was deployed when Adam Morgan replicated Parfitt’s circumstance though failing to get himself out of the gravel.
A rear-left puncture was the sole sole notable damage which ended his running by triggering the temporary session stoppage.
It was Colin Turkington who surged to his first pole position of the season ahead of Senna Proctor.
EXCELR8 Trade Price Cars’ Chris Smiley jumped from seventh to qualify third on his final flying lap.
Josh Cook and Jake Hill were in fourth and fifth.
Reigning champion Ash Sutton marginally claimed sixth ahead of teammate Aiden Moffat and Toyota driver Rory Butcher.
Tom Ingram was in P9 as Tom Oliphant rounded out the top-10.
Paul Rivett, who is filling in for Andy Neate, qualified in P24.
Position | Driver | Team | Time | Diff. from pole |
1 | Colin Turkington | Team BMW (C) | 50.836s | — |
2 | Senna Proctor | BTC Racing | 50.953s | 0.117s |
3 | Chris Smiley | EXCELR8 Trade Price Cars | 51.004s | 0.168s |
4 | Josh Cook | BTC Racing | 51.019s | 0.183s |
5 | Jake Hill | MB Motorsport (C) | 51.021s | 0.185s |
6 | Ash Sutton | Laser Tools Racing | 51.035s | 0.199s |
7 | Aiden Moffat | Laser Tools Racing | 51.036s | 0.200s |
8 | Rory Butcher | Toyota GAZOO Racing UK (C) | 51.047s | 0.211s |
9 | Tom Ingram | EXCELR8 Trade Price Cars | 51.079s | 0.243s |
10 | Tom Oliphant | Team BMW (C) | 51.101s | 0.265s |
11 | Gordon Shedden | Team Dynamics | 51.120s | 0.284s |
12 | Dan Lloyd | Power Maxed Racing | 51.187s | 0.351s |
13 | Adam Morgan | Ciceley Motorsport | 51.245s | 0.409s |
14 | Stephen Jelley | Team BMW (C) | 51.262s | 0.426s |
15 | Jason Plato | Power Maxed Racing | 51.273s | 0.437s |
16 | Tom Chilton | Ciceley Motorsport | 51.295s | 0.459s |
17 | Ollie Jackson | MB Motorsport (C) | 51.349s | 0.513s |
18 | Jack Goff | Team HARD | 51.390s | 0.554s |
19 | Daniel Rowbottom | Team Dynamics | 51.487s | 0.651s |
20 | Sam Osborne | Motorbase Performance (C) | 51.520s | 0.684s |
21 | Sam Smelt | Toyota GAZOO Racing UK (C) | 51.617s | 0.781s |
22 | Jade Edwards | BTC Racing | 51.668s | 0.832s |
23 | Árón Taylor-Smith | Team HARD | 51.686s | 0.850s |
24 | Paul Rivett | Motorbase Performance (C) | 51.729s | 0.893s |
25 | Carl Boardley | Laser Tools Racing | 51.763s | 0.927s |
26 | Jack Mitchell | Team HARD | 51.772s | 0.936s |
27 | Jack Butel | EXCELR8 Trade Price Cars | 51.908s | 1.072s |
28 | Nicolas Hamilton | Team HARD | 52.141s | 1.305s |
29 | Rick Parfitt Jr. | EXCELR8 Trade Price Cars | NO TIME SET | N/A |