Hyundai’s Néstor Girolami topped both FIA TCR World Tour practice sessions on the Circuito da Guia in Macau on Thursday, in both wet and drying conditions.
The opening session of the weekend took place on a very wet track, with Macau currently on the edge of the Tropical Storm Toraji weather system.
Girolami was the early pace setter, before BRC Racing team-mates Norbert Michelisz and Mikel Azcona moved ahead of him. However, three minutes from the end of the session the Argentine returned to the top of the times and ended up 0.175 seconds ahead of Cyan Racing’s Thed Björk, with his Lynk & Co team-mate Santiago Urrutia also getting in between the Hyundais in third.
In a drying second session, Girolami was again fastest, this time posting a lap of 2 minutes 37.165 seconds, some 11.596 seconds faster than earlier in the day, such was the improvement in track conditions towards the end of the session as drivers switched to slick rubber.
In the end, Girolami edged out Macau maestro Rob Huff by just under four tenths of a second in the second session, which was red-flagged multiple times.
The first stoppage in second practice came when TCR Asia competitor Hwang Doyun crashed out at Paiol after 12 minutes. By the time the session resumed, there were only ten minutes left for drivers to refine a slick tyre setup.
In the end, drivers got even less time than that, with TCR China’s Martin Cao causing a red flag at R Bend with two minutes to go, being narrowly missed by team-mates Andy Yan and Rainey He.
That left Girolami on top ahead of Huff, with GOAT Racing’s Marco Butti the best of the Hondas in third.
Volcano Motorsport’s John Filippi put his Audi in fourth, ahead of GOAT Racing’s Dušan Borković in fifth and his team-mate Esteban Guerrieri in sixth.
Rainey He was the leading TCR China driver in seventh, over four seconds slower than Girolami, ahead of Lo Sze Ho in eighth and Andy Yan in ninth.
The only Cyan Racing car to get into the top ten in FP2 was Thed Björk, five seconds off the pace, having minutes earlier briefly been fastest, such was the speed of the improvements on the drying track.
Irishman Max Hart was the best of the six-strong TCR Asia entry, putting his Hyundai in 16th, just under 11 seconds off the pace.
The challenging conditions caught out several other drivers, including MacPro Racing duo Martin Xie and Gary Kwok, who nudged the barriers but were able to continue.
Qualifying is scheduled to take place at 12:55 local time on Friday (05:55 CET, 04:55 GMT).
Free Practice 1 results
| POS | NO | NAT | DRIVER | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 129 |  |
Néstor GIROLAMI | BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 9 | 2:48.761 | – |
| 2 | 111 |  |
Thed BJÖRK | Lynk & Co Cyan Racing | Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR | 9 | 2:48.936 | 0.175 |
| 3 | 112 |  |
Santiago URRUTIA | Lynk & Co Cyan Racing | Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR | 8 | 2:50.545 | 1.784 |
| 4 | 196 |  |
Mikel AZCONA | BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 9 | 2:51.336 | 2.575 |
| 5 | 105 |  |
Norbert MICHELISZ | BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 9 | 2:51.339 | 2.578 |
| 6 | 179 |  |
Rob HUFF | Volcano Motorsport | Audi RS3 LMS TCR II | 9 | 2:51.378 | 2.617 |
| 7 | 186 | |
Esteban GUERRIERI | GOAT Racing | Honda Civic Type-R FL5 TCR | 9 | 2:52.526 | 3.765 |
| 8 | 55 |  |
Martin XIE Xin Zhe | MacPro Racing Team | Honda Civic Type-R FL5 TCR | 10 | 2:52.612 | 3.851 |
| 9 | 1 | |
Martin CAO Hongwei | Hyundai N | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 9 | 2:53.166 | 4.405 |
| 10 | 155 | |
MA Qing Hua | Lynk & Co Cyan Racing | Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR | 9 | 2:53.200 | 4.439 |
| 11 | 199 |  |
Marco BUTTI | GOAT Racing | Honda Civic Type-R FL5 TCR | 9 | 2:53.405 | 4.644 |
| 12 | 127 |  |
John FILIPPI | Volcano Motorsport | Audi RS3 LMS TCR II | 9 | 2:53.881 | 5.120 |
| 13 | 62 |  |
Dušan BORKOVIĆ | GOAT Racing | Honda Civic Type-R FL5 TCR | 9 | 2:54.618 | 5.857 |
| 14 | 2 | |
Rainey HE Xiaole | Hyundai N | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 9 | 2:55.024 | 6.263 |
| 15 | 168 | |
Yann EHRLACHER | Lynk & Co Cyan Racing | Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR | 9 | 2:55.122 | 6.361 |
| 16 | 3 |  |
Andy YAN Cheuk Wai | Hyundai N | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 9 | 2:55.416 | 6.655 |
| 17 | 28 | |
LO Sze Ho | Evolve Racing | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 9 | 2:55.734 | 6.973 |
| 18 | 18 | |
ZHANG Zhen Dong | Hyundai N by Z.Speed | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 8 | 2:55.882 | 7.121 |
| 19 | 72 | |
Juan Carlos ZHU | Lynk & Co Teamwork Motorsport | Lynk & Co 03 TCR | 10 | 2:57.345 | 8.584 |
| 20 | 9 | |
David ZHU Dai Wei | Lynk & Co Teamwork Motorsport | Lynk & Co 03 TCR | 10 | 2:57.413 | 8.652 |
| 21 | 36 | |
Jason ZHANG Zhi Qiang | Lynk & Co Teamwork Motorsport | Lynk & Co 03 TCR | 5 | 2:58.451 | 9.690 |
| 22 | 14 |  |
HWANG Doyun | Hyundai N by Z.Speed | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 8 | 3:00.355 | 11.594 |
| 23 | 11 | |
Gary KWOK | MacPro Racing Team | Honda Civic Type-R FL5 TCR | 9 | 3:01.350 | 12.589 |
| 24 | 69 |  |
Max HART | Hyundai N by Z.Speed | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 8 | 3:02.197 | 13.436 |
| 25 | 51 | |
WU Yifan | 326 Racing Team | Audi RS3 LMS TCR II | 8 | 3:02.207 | 13.446 |
| 26 | 12 | |
Sunny WONG Yat Shing | Lynk & Co Teamwork Motorsport | Lynk & Co 03 TCR | 9 | 3:02.466 | 13.705 |
| 27 | 52 | |
LAI Jing Wen | 326 Racing Team | Audi RS3 LMS TCR II | 7 | 3:04.457 | 15.696 |
| 28 | 66 | |
LI Guang Hua | 326 Racing Team | Lynk & Co 03 TCR | 9 | 3:05.531 | 16.770 |
| 29 | 95 | |
HU Heng | GYT Racing | Audi RS3 LMS TCR II | 9 | 3:05.573 | 16.812 |
| 30 | 87 | |
MAN Siu Ming | Evolve Racing | Honda Civic Type-R FK7 TCR | 5 | 3:13.899 | 25.138 |
| 31 | 56 |  |
Benny SANTOSO | Hyundai N by Z.Speed | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 8 | 3:15.586 | 26.825 |
| 32 | 82 | |
Dypo FITRAMADHAN | Delta Garage Racing Team | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 7 | 3:16.553 | 27.792 |
Free Practice 2 results
| POS | NO | NAT | DRIVER | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 129 | |
Néstor GIROLAMI | BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 6 | 2:37.165 | – |
| 2 | 179 | |
Rob HUFF | Volcano Motorsport | Audi RS3 LMS TCR II | 5 | 2:37.554 | 0.389 |
| 3 | 199 | |
Marco BUTTI | GOAT Racing | Honda Civic Type-R FL5 TCR | 6 | 2:39.279 | 2.114 |
| 4 | 127 | |
John FILIPPI | Volcano Motorsport | Audi RS3 LMS TCR II | 6 | 2:39.312 | 2.147 |
| 5 | 62 | |
Dušan BORKOVIĆ | GOAT Racing | Honda Civic Type-R FL5 TCR | 6 | 2:39.586 | 2.421 |
| 6 | 186 | |
Esteban GUERRIERI | GOAT Racing | Honda Civic Type-R FL5 TCR | 6 | 2:39.815 | 2.650 |
| 7 | 2 | |
Rainey HE Xiaole | Hyundai N | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 6 | 2:41.348 | 4.183 |
| 8 | 28 | |
LO Sze Ho | Evolve Racing | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 5 | 2:41.804 | 4.639 |
| 9 | 3 | |
Andy YAN Cheuk Wai | Hyundai N | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 6 | 2:41.948 | 4.783 |
| 10 | 111 | |
Thed BJÖRK | Lynk & Co Cyan Racing | Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR | 6 | 2:42.255 | 5.090 |
| 11 | 196 | |
Mikel AZCONA | BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 6 | 2:43.417 | 6.252 |
| 12 | 105 | |
Norbert MICHELISZ | BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 5 | 2:43.723 | 6.558 |
| 13 | 112 | |
Santiago URRUTIA | Lynk & Co Cyan Racing | Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR | 6 | 2:46.057 | 8.892 |
| 14 | 155 | |
MA Qing Hua | Lynk & Co Cyan Racing | Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR | 5 | 2:46.815 | 9.650 |
| 15 | 168 | |
Yann EHRLACHER | Lynk & Co Cyan Racing | Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR | 6 | 2:46.871 | 9.706 |
| 16 | 69 | |
Max HART | Hyundai N by Z.Speed | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 6 | 2:48.049 | 10.884 |
| 17 | 9 | |
David ZHU Dai Wei | Lynk & Co Teamwork Motorsport | Lynk & Co 03 TCR | 5 | 2:49.136 | 11.971 |
| 18 | 36 | |
Jason ZHANG Zhi Qiang | Lynk & Co Teamwork Motorsport | Lynk & Co 03 TCR | 4 | 2:49.354 | 12.189 |
| 19 | 12 | |
Sunny WONG Yat Shing | Lynk & Co Teamwork Motorsport | Lynk & Co 03 TCR | 6 | 2:51.017 | 13.852 |
| 20 | 18 | |
ZHANG Zhen Dong | Hyundai N by Z.Speed | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 6 | 2:52.088 | 14.923 |
| 21 | 72 | |
Juan Carlos ZHU | Lynk & Co Teamwork Motorsport | Lynk & Co 03 TCR | 6 | 2:53.137 | 15.972 |
| 22 | 11 | |
Gary KWOK | MacPro Racing Team | Honda Civic Type-R FL5 TCR | 6 | 2:55.124 | 17.959 |
| 23 | 51 | |
WU Yifan | 326 Racing Team | Audi RS3 LMS TCR II | 5 | 2:55.443 | 18.278 |
| 24 | 95 | |
HU Heng | GYT Racing | Audi RS3 LMS TCR II | 5 | 2:56.013 | 18.848 |
| 25 | 52 | |
LAI Jing Wen | 326 Racing Team | Audi RS3 LMS TCR II | 5 | 2:56.024 | 18.859 |
| 26 | 87 | |
MAN Siu Ming | Evolve Racing | Honda Civic Type-R FK7 TCR | 4 | 2:57.564 | 20.399 |
| 27 | 14 | |
HWANG Doyun | Hyundai N by Z.Speed | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 3 | 2:57.657 | 20.492 |
| 28 | 66 | |
LI Guang Hua | 326 Racing Team | Lynk & Co 03 TCR | 6 | 3:00.401 | 23.236 |
| 29 | 56 | |
Benny SANTOSO | Hyundai N by Z.Speed | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 5 | 3:06.135 | 28.970 |
| 30 | 82 | |
Dypo FITRAMADHAN | Delta Garage Racing Team | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 6 | 3:07.557 | 30.392 |
| 31 | 1 | |
Martin CAO Hongwei | Hyundai N | Hyundai Elantra N TCR | 4 | No time | N/A |
| 32 | 55 | |
Martin XIE Xin Zhe | MacPro Racing Team | Honda Civic Type-R FL5 TCR | 5 | No time | N/A |