The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship commenced its official pre-season testing programme today (March 29) as Donington Park played host to the opening Hybrid Installation Test.

Becoming the first major touring car series in the world to integrate hybrid power, all competing cars will run the TOCA Hybrid system in 2022 – which has been designed, supplied and will be serviced by Cosworth Electronics.

All teams were in attendance at the Leicestershire venue as a total of 23 cars hit the track, however not all of them ran the new hybrid system as some are still awaiting the installation of parts.

Morning running under the flightpath of East Midlands airport was delayed due to fog but when conditions improved it was four-time champion Colin Turkington that set the fastest time, leading a BMW 1-2-3-4 ahead of Stephen Jelley, Adam Morgan and Jake Hill. 

Turkington continued his front-running pace in the afternoon session as he set a benchmark time of 1:09.104 ahead of Gordon Shedden, Tom Ingram, Dan Cammish and Morgan.

As is the case during test sessions, overall lap times are unlikely to be representative as each team and driver works through their own respective programmes.

Two further official test days are scheduled for Croft (6 April) and Thruxton (13 April), where it is expected that all cars will run the TOCA Hybrid system.

To view the full classification of times from the first Hybrid Installation Test at Donington Park, CLICK HERE.