Aron Taylor-Smith led a surpris🔥e Team HARD one-two d💧uring the first British Touring Car Championship running of the Knockhill weekend after setting the pace ahead of Bobby Thompson in FP1.

With the opening 40-minute session beginning under greasy conditions, the track gradually improved as the 29-car field created an ever-drying line around the iconic Scottish♏ circuit.

It was 𝓡BTC Racing's Josh Cook who led most the running while the track conditions were at their worst. However, Taylor-Smith produced a sensational lap out of nowhere and leapt to the top of the timesheets, wit🦩h his Cupra Leon team mate Thompson following in-tow.

Taylor-Smith's 53.088s effort was good e🔜nough to lead the field by almost 0.5s ahead of Thompson, but still🍎 remains some three-seconds shy of the existing BTCC lap record.

Despite being🌼 one of the drivers to cause two red-flags during FP1, Power Maxed Racing's Michael Crees recovered to set the third fastest time ahead of title contender Cook in fourth✨.

Toyota Gazoo Racing UK's Rory Butcher ended FP1 quickest of the four-s❀trong home contingent. The Toyota Corolla driver was fifth fastest ahead of top BMW r▨unner Jake Hill in sixth.

Former three-time champion and home favourite Gordon Shedden produced a lap good enougไh for seventh fastest, while Dan Cammish, George Gamble and Ash Sutton completed the remainder of the top-ten.

Elsewhere, championship leader Tom Ingram just missed out on the top-ten in 11t🌠h💎, while Jason Plato and Colin Turkington wound up in 16th and 17th.