Rob Huff topped the combined times from the first TCR World Tour private test sessions at the Autodromo do Algarve in Portugal, putting his Audi on top by just 0.009 seconds.
Huff, a new signing for Comtoyou Racing, went fastest in the first session of the afternoon, lapping the Portimão circuit in 1 minute 51.307 seconds.
Reigning FIA WTCR champion Mikel Azcona was second, less than a tenth behind, ahead of BRC Hyundai team-mate Norbert Michelisz in third.
The World Tour entries locked out the top four places, with tin-top returnee Frédéric Vervisch putting his Audi in fourth, just under three seconds adrift of team-mate Huff.
Comtoyou’s Kobe Pauwels was the leading TCR Europe entry in fifth, the rookie being just under half a second off the pace, ahead of team-mate John Filippi in sixth and touring car veteran Tom Coronel in seventh.
Néstor Girolami gave his completely new Honda Civic a good showing with the eighth fastest time.
Lynk & Co drivers completed the top ten – first was MA:GP’s Viktor Andersson in the older-specification car, ahead of Ma Qing Hua in the Cyan Racing-run facelifted variant in tenth, 0.860 seconds off the pace.
Most drivers set their best times in the first session, although Andersson was one of a small number to actually go quicker later in the day.
Although not on the official entry list, Pepe Oriola took part in both sessions in an RC2 Racing Team-run Audi, the Spaniard ending the day with the 19th fastest time.
The on-track running continues on Friday with two further practice sessions, ahead of qualifying and race one on Saturday.
Combined session results
| POS | NO | NAT | DRIVER | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 176 |  |
Rob HUFF | Audi Sport Team Comtoyou | Audi RS3 LMS TCR II | 47 | 1:51.307 | – |
| 2 | 196 |  |
Mikel AZCONA | BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 40 | 1:51.316 | 0.009 |
| 3 | 105 |  |
Norbert MICHELISZ | BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 44 | 1:51.449 | 0.142 |
| 4 | 122 |  |
Frédéric VERVISCH | Audi Sport Team Comtoyou | Audi RS3 LMS TCR II | 49 | 1:51.581 | 0.274 |
| 5 | 22 |  |
Kobe PAUWELS | Comtoyou Racing | Audi RS3 LMS TCR II | 49 | 1:51.781 | 0.474 |
| 6 | 27 |  |
John FILIPPI | Comtoyou Racing | Audi RS3 LMS TCR II | 42 | 1:51.968 | 0.661 |
| 7 | 34 | |
Tom CORONEL | Comtoyou Racing | Audi RS3 LMS TCR II | 34 | 1:51.979 | 0.672 |
| 8 | 129 |  |
Néstor GIROLAMI | ALM Motorsport | Honda Civic Type-R FL5 TCR | 45 | 1:51.982 | 0.675 |
| 9 | 10 |  |
Viktor ANDERSSON | MA:GP | Lynk & Co 03 TCR | 42 | 1:52.102 | 0.795 |
| 10 | 155 |  |
MA Qing Hua | Cyan Racing Lynk & Co | Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR | 51 | 1:52.167 | 0.860 |
| 11 | 11 |  |
Viktor DAVIDOVSKI | Comtoyou Racing | Audi RS3 LMS TCR II | 47 | 1:52.227 | 0.920 |
| 12 | 8 |  |
Nicola BALDAN | Aggressive Team Italia | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 44 | 1:52.373 | 1.066 |
| 13 | 111 | |
Thed BJÖRK | Cyan Racing Lynk & Co | Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR | 44 | 1:52.389 | 1.082 |
| 14 | 168 | |
Yann EHRLACHER | Cyan Racing Lynk & Co | Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR | 47 | 1:52.416 | 1.109 |
| 15 | 112 |  |
Santiago URRUTIA | Cyan Racing Lynk & Co | Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR | 46 | 1:52.542 | 1.235 |
| 16 | 62 |  |
Dušan BORKOVIĆ | Target Competition | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 46 | 1:52.807 | 1.500 |
| 17 | 19 | |
Felipe FERNÁNDEZ Gil | RC2 Racing Team | Audi RS3 LMS TCR II | 38 | 1:52.832 | 1.525 |
| 18 | 39 | |
Lewis BROWN | Volcano Motorsport | Audi RS3 LMS TCR II | 44 | 1:52.915 | 1.608 |
| 19 | 41 | |
Pepe ORIOLA | RC2 Racing Team | Audi RS3 LMS TCR II | 23 | 1:53.013 | 1.706 |
| 20 | 12 | |
Rubén FERNÁNDEZ Gil | RC2 Racing Team | Audi RS3 LMS TCR II | 20 | 1:53.359 | 2.052 |
| 21 | 23 | |
Isaac SMITH | Volcano Motorsport | Audi RS3 LMS TCR II | 47 | 1:53.463 | 2.156 |
| 22 | 71 |  |
Ben BARGWANNA | Team Clairet Sport – Burson Auto Parts Racing | Peugeot 308 TCR | 47 | 1:53.501 | 2.194 |
| 23 | 48 | |
Mikael KARLSSON | Aggressive Team Italia | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 35 | 1:53.824 | 2.517 |