Citroën’s Yvan Muller set the pace in first practice for the World Touring Car Championship at the Moscow Raceway in Russia, with Honda’s Gabriele Tarquini in second and ROAL Motorsport’s Tom Coronel third.
Muller rose to the top of the times two thirds of the way through the half-hour session, posting a lap of 1:39.898 to go faster than mid-session pace-setter Coronel. Late in the session Tarquini then improved his time to go second, under a tenth slower than Muller.
Fourth fastest was Honda’s Tiago Monteiro, ahead of the second Citroën of Sébastien Loeb in fifth.
Mehdi Bennani was sixth fastest in his Proteam Honda, having spent much of the session inside the top five. Tom Chilton was the second-fastest Chevrolet driver in seventh.
Chinese driver Ma Qing Hua was ninth fastest for Citroën Racing in his first-ever WTCC practice session, exactly three tenths slower than championship leader José María López in seventh.
Gianni Morbidelli completed the top ten, 1.002 seconds off the pace in his Münnich Motorsport Chevrolet.
James Thompson ended the session as the top LADA driver in 12th at the manufacturer’s home event, having earlier enjoyed some time inside the top ten.
Franz Engstler was once again the quickest driver in the TC2 class, ahead of team-mate Pasquale di Sabatino.
Second practice takes place at 1100 MST (0800 BST, 0900 CEST).
Top ten times
| POS | NO | CL | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 1 | TC1 | Yvan MULLER |  |
Citroën Total WTCC | Citroën C-Elysée WTCC | 14 | 1:39.898 | |
| 2 | 2 | TC1 | Gabriele TARQUINI |  |
Castrol Honda WTC Team | Honda Civic WTCC | 14 | 1:39.962 | 0.064 |
| 3 | 4 | TC1 | Tom CORONEL |  |
ROAL Motorsport | Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 | 15 | 1:40.130 | 0.232 |
| 4 | 18 | TC1 | Tiago MONTEIRO |  |
Castrol Honda WTC Team | Honda Civic WTCC | 13 | 1:40.168 | 0.270 |
| 5 | 9 | TC1 | Sébastien LOEB | |
Citroën Total WTCC | Citroën C-Elysée WTCC | 14 | 1:40.306 | 0.408 |
| 6 | 25 | TC1 | Mehdi BENNANI |  |
Proteam Racing | Honda Civic WTCC | 13 | 1:40.384 | 0.486 |
| 7 | 3 | TC1 | Tom CHILTON |  |
ROAL Motorsport | Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 | 13 | 1:40.480 | 0.582 |
| 8 | 37 | TC1 | José María LÓPEZ |  |
Citroën Total WTCC | Citroën C-Elysée WTCC | 13 | 1:40.496 | 0.598 |
| 9 | 33 | TC1 | MA Qing Hua |  |
Citroën Total WTCC | Citroën C-Elysée WTCC | 13 | 1:40.796 | 0.898 |
| 10 | 10 | TC1 | Gianni MORBIDELLI | |
ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport | Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 | 13 | 1:40.900 | 1.002 |