BMW’s Bruno Spengler set the pace for the first time this season in first practice for the DTM at the Nürburgring, edging out Audi’s Loïc Duval in a frantic end to the wet but drying session.
Spengler ended the session with a lap which was a tenth and a half ahead of Frenchman Duval, having put on slick tyres near the end of the half-hour session as the track became drier.
It is the only time this year that the Canadian has been fastest – and only the fourth time this year that Spengler has cracked the top ten in a free practice session.
BMW Team RMR’s Timo Glock was third fastest, ahead of BMW Team RMG’s Augusto Farfus in fourth, the latter being the only other driver with a second of the pace.
Audi’s Mike Rockenfeller was fifth, having been on top of the times with 30 seconds to go, ahead of BMW’s newest race winner Joel Eriksson in sixth.
No Mercedes featured inside the top ten, with Daniel Juncadella being the best-placed driver for the Stuttgart marque in 12th, almost two-and-a-half seconds off the pace.
Title contenders Paul di Resta and Gary Paffett were just 16th and 18th respectively, over six seconds off the pace, with the former having topped the times with six minutes left as conditions scuppered several drivers plans for practice.
Second practice takes place at 07:30 BST (08:30 CEST) on Saturday morning, followed by qualifying at 10:15 BST (11:15 CEST) and race one at 12:30 BST (13:30 CEST).
Session results
| POS | NO | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 7 | Bruno SPENGLER |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 20 | 1:26.163 | 0.000 |
| 2 | 28 | Loïc DUVAL |  |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 20 | 1:26.310 | 0.147 |
| 3 | 16 | Timo GLOCK |  |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 19 | 1:26.367 | 0.204 |
| 4 | 15 | Augusto FARFUS |  |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 20 | 1:26.813 | 0.650 |
| 5 | 99 | Mike ROCKENFELLER | |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 20 | 1:27.307 | 1.144 |
| 6 | 47 | Joel ERIKSSON |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 20 | 1:27.546 | 1.383 |
| 7 | 33 | René RAST | |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 20 | 1:27.818 | 1.655 |
| 8 | 25 | Philipp ENG |  |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 20 | 1:28.126 | 1.963 |
| 9 | 53 | Jamie GREEN |  |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 19 | 1:28.233 | 2.070 |
| 10 | 51 | Nico MÜLLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 19 | 1:28.408 | 2.245 |
| 11 | 4 | Robin FRIJNS |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 19 | 1:28.535 | 2.372 |
| 12 | 23 | Daniel JUNCADELLA |  |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport REMUS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 18 | 1:28.629 | 2.466 |
| 13 | 94 | Pascal WEHRLEIN | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport PETRONAS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 19 | 1:32.219 | 6.056 |
| 14 | 48 | Edoardo MORTARA |  |
SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 19 | 1:32.720 | 6.557 |
| 15 | 22 | Lucas AUER | |
SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 19 | 1:33.062 | 6.899 |
| 16 | 3 | Paul DI RESTA | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport REMUS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 17 | 1:33.096 | 6.933 |
| 17 | 11 | Marco WITTMANN | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 19 | 1:33.249 | 7.086 |
| 18 | 2 | Gary PAFFETT | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport PETRONAS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 18 | 1:33.834 | 7.671 |