NAPA Racing UK’s Dan Cammish led the way in a red flag-interrupted session for the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, as the series returned to the Donington Park Grand Prix circuit for the first time in 21 years.

The Ford Focus ST contender was four tenths clear of the field, with his late lap coming just before he went off the road into the barriers at McLeans with three minutes remaining, the same point at which his car caught fire at last year’s opening round.

Despite the shunt, his effort of 1m33.670s, put him clear of Bristol Street Motors with Excelr8’s Tom Chilton, a winner here at the season opener.

Cammish’s teammate and championship leader Ash Sutton was third, 0.188s away from Chilton and only 0.016s clear of the lead Toyota Corolla GR Sport of Ricky Collard in fourth.

Team BMW’s Colin Turkington, who along with Chilton, is the only driver to have BTCC race experience on the full GP circuit, was fifth quickest, 0.063s clear of the second Corolla of Rory Butcher.

The third Focus of Sam Osborne was seventh, a tenth clear of the CarStore Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra of Aron Taylor-Smith, with the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW of Jake Hill ninth and the final driver within a second of the outright pace. Local man Tom Gamble completed the top-10 in his Corolla.

It was a dramatic practice throughout, with the first red flag caused by Mikey Doble’s stopped car at Redgate with 16 minutes remaining.

The session resumed with 11 minutes on the clock, and the drama wasn’t finished, with reigning champion Tom Ingram next to hit trouble with a rear wheel departing his car at the Old Hairpin, forcing him to stop. Ingram ended the session in last place and nine seconds off the pace.

Cammish’s heavy shunt followed a minute or so later, which thankfully left the driver uninjured but the car significantly damaged.

The second Kwik Fit BTCC session of the day is due to start at 12.15.

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Donington Park GP, Free Practice 1 top-10 result:
1. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST, 1m33.670s
2. Tom Chilton, Bristol Street Motors with Excelr8, Hyundai 130N, +0.402s
3. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST, +0.590s
4. Ricky Collard, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, Toyota Corolla GR Sport, +0.606s
5. Colin Turkington, Team BMW, BMW 330e M Sport, +0.695s
6. Rory Butcher, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, Toyota Corolla GR Sport, +0.758s
7. Sam Osborne, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST, +0.781s
8. Aron Taylor-Smith, CarStore Power Maxed Racing, Vauxhall Astra, +0.914s
9. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, +0.973s
10. Tom Gamble, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, +1.052s

Click here for full result.

Tickets are available upon arrival at the circuit all weekend, with free entry for children under-13. Click here for full information.