Team ES Racing set the pace

The Luton-based team’s principal Chris James also put in a solid performance to finish the session in the top 10.

It was a great end to a busy weekend for the team after they had spent it repairing the number 78 Vectra of James which suffered a heavy impact at Brands Hatch testing on Thursday.

Following the morning’s media activities, Newsham threw down the gauntlet early, setting the pace with a sub-one minute lap time.

This time would stand for the rest of the session with Newsham further improving his efforts with a 58.965secs lap in the last hour as he became the only driver to dip below the 59secs mark.

The day wasn’t without its drama for the Inverness-based driver after he suffered a few gremlins including a puncture and brake problems.

Newsham said: “It’s been awesome hasn’t it, just awesome.

“We did a lap, one of the first flying laps and set the fastest time and that was after everyone else had been pounding around and we’d been sitting in the garage to go out and go even faster.

“We seem to be able to turn it on whenever we like.

“The car is just awesome, it was brilliant at the Brands Hatch test and it’s been brilliant here too, it’s just really quick.”

James, running a 2011-spec engine, finished the session in ninth place after steadily improving his times in his first time out since a heavy accident at Brands Hatch.

He said: “How can you not say it’s been an amazing day when Dave has been fastest, he’s obliterated anybody’s time around here previously.

“My time of 59.6 was sixth tenths faster than that of James Nash’s race pace last season, we had a race set-up all day.

“We never had anything like a qualifying set up.

“After Thursday the team doesn’t need to prove anything, we know we had an enthusiastic professional quality team

“We’ll do our talking on the track this year.”

Team manager Andrew Dean had a positive day at the helm and added: “From where we were last Thursday with the state of Chris’s car I think the team deserve an enormous amount of praise to get it here in a running condition and still prepare Dave’s to a high standard.

“The team are still learning the cars and still learning to work with two cars because it’s a big step up for them from one car, but I have to say my initial impression of the guys is that they are massively enthusiastic and very capable. So hopefully as the season goes on and we gel as a team we can build on some decent results.

“To come here and be quickest is a bit of a surprise, we didn’t expect that, Dave’s obviously an accomplished driver and the car’s a proven package.

“We have the benefit of having all the set-up data from Triple Eight as well, but it’s all very well having all the kit and information but if you don’t know how to use it, then it’s no good to anyone.

“I’m quietly pleased with the performance of not just the drivers but the team as well.”

The first round of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship takes place at Brands Hatch on April 1.