Free practice mode?

Hi
Is there a way to run the cars straight away and just display lap times without starting a race?
Cheers
Chris
(Scalextric C7042)

no, in the race setting you have to tick the option "free practice" and start the race.

I don't know if I'm being thick here but I'm missing something as I can't see any difference when I select practice session in the setup apart from an x in "practice session" box at the bottom of the main screen - when I click start I go into a normal race which stops after the number of pre-selected race laps. Also, the x is still showing in the practice session box and clicking on it doesn't change it.

In short what I'm looking for is an unlimited free practice mode which shows lap times

When you select practice session the classification will be sorted by best lap time, for a unlimited practice session just set the number of laps to 9999 or more.
"the x is still showing in the practice session box and clicking on it doesn't change it" : that's normal because these pictures are there just to show you the type of race you are doing and other status.

Thanks for the quick replies. So am I right in assuming it's not possible to move directly from a "practice session" into a "real race" without going through "new race" again and unclicking "practice session?

correct

does PCLC still record fastest laps when the practice is "ticked"?

Most optimal would be that fast laps only be saved during races?

fastest laps are not recorded during practice session but PCLC still save all the laps into the statistics board , that mean that the best laptime of each drivers/cars/track displayed in the statistics board can be a lap time made during a practice session.
If you don't want to have practice session in the statistics board just use the delete feature of the statistics board: in the race history select the race and click on "delete...".