The first of two shortened Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters practice sessions at Brands Hatch saw Audi Sport’s Robin Frijns fastest after a very closely-packed session.
The times rapidly dropped as the session progressed, with Augusto Farfus setting the pace with increasing consistency, before the sub 1m20s barrier was passed with 18 minutes and ten seconds completed by both Frijns and Juncadella.
The Dutch driver set his best lap time of a 1:19.515 on his last lap of the session, ahead of Mercedes’ Daniel Juncadella, Loïc Duval and Mike Rockenfeller, who were all split by 0.469 seconds.
Nico Müller made it four Audis in the top five, as the Swiss driver only mustered a best time of 1:20.130, ahead of Italy’s Edoardo Mortara, who was sixth quickest.
Defending champion René Rast was also in the top five at certain points of the session, but would place seventh fastest, ahead of initial pacesetter Farfus, who was the best of the BMWs in eighth.
Two-time champion Marco Wittmann and Munich stable mate Timo Glock rounded off the top ten, ahead of title contender Paul Di Resta.
2015 champion Pascal Wehrlein was 12th quickest ahead of Audi Sport Team Rosberg’s Jamie Green, whilst the Stuttgart pair of Austria’s Lucas Auer and current points leader Gary Paffett were 14th and 15th quickest.
Phillip Eng would lead a trio of BMWs at the bottom of the timesheets, as the Austria was 16th with a 1:21.101, ahead of Bruno Spengler and fellow rookie Joel Eriksson.
Second free practice gets underway at 0935 local time, lasting for 25 minutes.
Session results
| POS | NO | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 4 | Robin FRIJNS |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 18 | 1:19.515 | 0.000 |
| 2 | 23 | Daniel JUNCADELLA |  |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport REMUS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 18 | 1:19.716 | 0.201 |
| 3 | 28 | Loïc DUVAL |  |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 15 | 1:19.874 | 0.359 |
| 4 | 99 | Mike ROCKENFELLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 19 | 1:19.984 | 0.469 |
| 5 | 51 | Nico MÜLLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 18 | 1:20.130 | 0.615 |
| 6 | 48 | Edoardo MORTARA |  |
SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 13 | 1:20.152 | 0.637 |
| 7 | 33 | René RAST | |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 18 | 1:20.322 | 0.807 |
| 8 | 15 | Augusto FARFUS |  |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 18 | 1:20.336 | 0.821 |
| 9 | 11 | Marco WITTMANN | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 13 | 1:20.439 | 0.924 |
| 10 | 16 | Timo GLOCK | |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 18 | 1:20.592 | 1.077 |
| 11 | 3 | Paul DI RESTA |  |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport REMUS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 19 | 1:20.654 | 1.139 |
| 12 | 94 | Pascal WEHRLEIN | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport PETRONAS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 17 | 1:20.660 | 1.145 |
| 13 | 53 | Jamie GREEN | |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 18 | 1:20.696 | 1.181 |
| 14 | 22 | Lucas AUER |  |
SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 17 | 1:20.830 | 1.315 |
| 15 | 2 | Gary PAFFETT | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport PETRONAS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 18 | 1:20.917 | 1.402 |
| 16 | 25 | Philipp ENG | |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 17 | 1:21.101 | 1.586 |
| 17 | 7 | Bruno SPENGLER |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 18 | 1:21.385 | 1.870 |
| 18 | 47 | Joel ERIKSSON |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 17 | 1:21.665 | 2.150 |