TCR competitors were given an unusual two-hour test session to get their bearings around the Chang International Circuit.
Spanish duo of Jordi Gené and Pepe Oriola posted the two fastest laps in their SEAT León cars of Craft-Bamboo Lukoil, while Gianni Morbidelli, René Münnich and Kevin Gleason filled the position from third to fifth in the WestCoast Racing Honda Civic cars.
Gené and Oriola proved consistently fastest and swapped the first position several times; eventually the former set the best lap of 1:44.218 that was one-and-half tenth faster than his team-mate’s 1:44.383. Morbidelli’s best lap of 1:44.772 was more than half a second from the leading pace.
Another trio of SEAT drivers – Sergey Afanasyev, Loris Hezemans and Stefano Comini – ranked sixth, seventh and eighth, while Mikhail Grachev was classified ninth in the Liqui Moly Team Engstler Volkswagen Golf.
Alain Menu and Hugo Valente posted the 12th and 13th fastest laps on their first runs in the Top Run Subaru STi and the Campos Racing Opel Astra.
The TCR Asia field was led by Munkong Sathienthirakul at the wheel of the Craft-Bamboo SEAT; the Thai driver was clocked 14th fastest, just ahead of Rob Holland’s FRD Racing Ford Focus.
No incidents were reported during the session, expect a couple of spins made by Douglas Khoo and Kenneth Lau in the latest stages; however they both rejoined with no damage.
TCR drivers will return to action tomorrow morning at 9.00 for the first Free Practice.
