Audi Sport’s Mike Rockenfeller was quickest in first practice for the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season finale at Hockenheim this afternoon, following a tight half-hour session.
The Team Phoenix driver topped a trio of Audi RS5’s, ahead of René Rast and current points leader Mattias Ekström, setting the fastest time of 1:31.760 around the 4.574-km circuit, just 0.166 seconds clear of Rast.
Lucas Auer was the best of the Mercedes-AMG Motorsport contingent with a time just 0.218 seconds shy of Rockenfeller, as 2005 champion Gary Paffett completed the top five.
In sixth position was Team Rosberg’s Jamie Green, who is currently third in the drivers’ standings. The Briton was quicker than both Paul Di Resta and Nico Müller, with the trio separated by 0.297 seconds.
The fastest of the BMW drivers was Bruno Spengler down in ninth with a best effort of a 1:32.384, leading a Munich quartet headed by Belgium’s Maxime Martin, who completed the top ten.
Defending champion Marco Wittman could only manage 11th fastest, ahead of stablemates Augusto Farfus and Timo Glock.
The second half-hour free practice session gets underway at 09:55 CEST tomorrow, lasting for 30 minutes.
Session results
| POS | NO | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 99 | Mike ROCKENFELLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 20 | 1:31.760 | 0.000 |
| 2 | 33 | René RAST | |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 19 | 1:31.926 | 0.166 |
| 3 | 5 | Mattias EKSTRÖM |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 17 | 1:31.942 | 0.182 |
| 4 | 22 | Lucas AUER |  |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport BWT | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 17 | 1:31.978 | 0.218 |
| 5 | 2 | Gary PAFFETT |  |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Mercedes me | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 17 | 1:32.052 | 0.292 |
| 6 | 53 | Jamie GREEN | |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 19 | 1:32.080 | 0.320 |
| 7 | 3 | Paul DI RESTA | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport SILBERPFEIL Energy | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 18 | 1:32.150 | 0.390 |
| 8 | 51 | Nico MÜLLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 20 | 1:32.377 | 0.617 |
| 9 | 7 | Bruno SPENGLER |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 19 | 1:32.384 | 0.624 |
| 10 | 36 | Maxime MARTIN |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 20 | 1:32.396 | 0.636 |
| 11 | 11 | Marco WITTMANN | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 18 | 1:32.640 | 0.880 |
| 12 | 15 | Augusto FARFUS |  |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 18 | 1:32.665 | 0.905 |
| 13 | 16 | Timo GLOCK | |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 6 | 1:32.672 | 0.912 |
| 14 | 63 | Maro ENGEL | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport SILBERPFEIL Energy | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 20 | 1:32.861 | 1.101 |
| 15 | 6 | Robert WICKENS | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Mercedes me | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 21 | 1:32.897 | 1.137 |
| 16 | 77 | Loïc DUVAL |  |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 17 | 1:32.899 | 1.139 |
| 17 | 31 | Tom BLOMQVIST | |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 19 | 1:32.942 | 1.182 |
| 18 | 48 | Edoardo MORTARA |  |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport BWT | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 21 | 1:32.947 | 1.187 |