Yvan Muller has set the fastest time in the first World Touring Car Championship practice session at the Hungaroring, lapping in 1:55.594 to go faster than Gabriele Tarquini and Alain Menu.
Click here for the full first practice times.
Muller’s lap was almost one second faster than the previous best, as the Frenchman asserted himself once again as the man to beat in Hungary. Tarquini was less than a tenth of a second slower in second, whilst Menu posted the third fastest lap just under two tenths slower than his team-mate.
Local hero Norbert Michelisz was fourth fastest and the top Yokohama Trophy driver, with the Hungarian just over half a second off the best time. Rob Huff finished the session in fifth and as the last driver within a second of Muller.
Sixth quickest was Dutchman Tom Coronel, followed by Hong Kong’s Darryl O’Young, Spaniard Pepe Oriola, Moroccan Mehdi Bennani and German Franz Engstler. The top ten drivers were covered by just over 1.2 seconds.
It was a difficult session for the British drivers, with Huff the only one to make it inside the top ten. This weekend sees a record number of Brits on the grid, with six drivers represented thanks to the reappearance of James Thompson.
Thompson, competing in the new LADA Granta Sport, managed to post the 19th quickest time, within two seconds of Muller. The former double British champion is making his first appearance in the WTCC since 2009.