Aron Taylor-Smith led a surprise Team HARD one-two during the first British Touring Car Championship running of the Knockhill weekend after se🔯tting 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 Scot🍷tish circuit.

It was BTC 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 th🧔e top of the timesheets, with his Cupra Leon team mate Thompson following in-tow.

Taylor-Smith's 53.088s effort was good enough to lead the field by almost 0.5s ahead of Thompson, but still remains some 🍃three-seconds s🌞hy of the existing BTCC lap record.

Despit🧸e being one of the drivers to cause two red-flag♛s 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-strong home contingent. The To🎃yota Corolla driver was fifth fastest ahead of top🏅 BMW runner Jake Hill in sixth.

Former three-time champion and home favo🐽urite Gordon Shedden produced a lap good enough for seventh fastest, while Dan Cammish, George Gambl♉e and Ash Sutton completed the remainder of the top-ten.

Elsewhere, championship leader Tom Ingram just missed out on the top-ten in 11th, while Jaso♈n Plato and Colin Turkington wound up in 16th and 17th.