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Rowbottom Tops Croft Practice, Cook On Pole

CPRL’s Mercedes have strong single-lap pace while qualifying and steward rulings are reshaping the Croft grid

Overview

  • Dan Rowbottom set the fastest time in free practice at Croft with a 1:20.996s lap on soft tyres, becoming the only driver to break 1m21s and underlining CPRL’s raw pace.
  • Josh Cook topped split-group qualifying and then won the Race To Pole, securing pole position for Sunday’s Race 1 with a best qualifying lap of 1:20.663s.
  • Dan Cammish had a Group 1 lap initially deleted for exceeding track limits then had the time reinstated after an appeal, which changed his starting order in the qualifying race.
  • Adam Morgan received a five-point penalty for exceeding the season limit on engine changes, a ruling that affects his championship tally after recent strong results.
  • Weekend format and tyre rules — split qualifying groups, a Race To Pole that sets Race 1 grid slots, and mandatory soft- and hard-tyre uses — plus TOCA performance handicaps are materially shaping strategy and the provisional championship picture.