Damien Faulkner set the pace in testing for the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Croft yesterday (Thursday 13 July), as teams and drivers prepared for rounds nine and ten of the championship.Back in action after a six-week mid-season championship break, Faulkner (Team Parker with SAS) jumped to the top of the times late in the two-hour test session as several leading drivers ran new tyres. "That's where we want to be, but there was a much better lap to come," admitted Faulkner after lapping 1.7s under the existing lap record. "We've not run since Thruxton, so today was more about re-aclimatising and it's good to be back out."Just two-hundredths of a second slower than Faulkner was Danny Watts (Team Irwin with Red Line). "We were just concentrating on set-up and I've now got to do it when it matters on Saturday," reckoned Watts, who is back with the Red Line team while Richard Westbrook races in the Porsche Michelin Supercup at Magny Cours.Jason Templeman also ran very well for Team Parker with SAS, posting third fastest time despite missing the middle of the session while his car was cleaned up after a spin into the gravel at Clervaux. Templeman returned to the track for the final 15 minutes of testing and shot straight up to third fastest. Completing a very successful test session for Team Parker Racing to take fourth and head the pro-am category runners was Sam Edwards. Armed with a set of new tyres, Edwards was running very strongly on only his second visit to Croft. "I've only been here once before, about three years ago," admitted Edwards. "But the car felt really good."Motorbase Performance team mates Tim Harvey and Michael Caine ended the day fifth and sixth fastest and were the quickest of the drivers not to use new tyres. Harvey's best lap of 1m23.424s had led the times for much of the session and he was pleased with their pace. "We were quickest for a long time on old rubber and the car was very consistent, so we're very happy," said Harvey.Mark Cole (Tech 9) and Richard Williams (IN2RACING) were next up before Andy Purdie (Paragon) who was second fastest in the pro-am category. After winning the category at Thruxton, Purdie was eager to get back racing again at one of his favourite tracks and ended the session just ahead of pro-am points leader Phil Quaife (Motorbase Performance).

Leading times:1 Damien Faulkner (Team Parker with SAS) 1m22.429s2 Danny Watts (Team Irwin with Red Line) 1m22.455s3 Jason Templeman (Team Parker with SAS) 1m22.833s4 Sam Edwards (Team Parker Racing)  1m23.319s5 Tim Harvey (Motorbase Performance)  1m23.424s7 Michael Caine (Motorbase Performance)  1m23.527s7 Mark Cole (Tech 9 Motorsport)   1m23.805s8 Richard Williams (IN2RACING)   1m24.245s9 Andy Purdie (Paragon)    1m24.354s10 Phil Quaife (Motorbase Performance)  1m24.442s