Gianni Morbidelli leads Honda 1-2 in Shanghai FP1
Gianni Morbidelli was quickest in the first Free Practice session at Shanghai, China. The Italian made full use of his previous experience at the track and was the only driver to lap below the 2’18 barrier. The Honda driver came home ahead of WestCoast Racing team-mate René Munnich, while Target Competition’s Andrea Belicchi finished third, emerging as the quickest SEAT 0.7s behind the leader.
Sepang double podium scorer Pepe Oriola was the leading Craft-Bamboo Lukoil driver in fourth, the Spaniard putting his León just ahead of Keving Gleason’s Honda Civic TCR. The American spun in the early stages of the session, but quickly recovered to make it a top five result for all Hondas.
Michel Nykjaer came sixth for Target Competition ahead of stablemate Jordi Gené, with Liqui Moli Team Engstler’s Mikhail Grachev in eighth in his Audi TT.
CTCC champion Jiang Tengyi was the last SEAT in the top ten, with Franz Engstler coming home ahead of championship leader Stefano Comini.
Morbidelli commented:”It was a good session, but I reckon that knowing well the track was an advantage in this first session. Still, the car seems well balanced and has good grip, I see some improvement room in braking.”
Stefano Comini focused on learning the track and the León’s balance with the 30-kilos success ballast he will be carrying this weekend:”I was not looking for lap times, just learning the track and getting to know the car in this configuration with success ballast.
For sure, this track, with a lot of acceleration zones and braking in corners, is not the ideal one to be carrying an extra passenger such as ballast!”
The action resumes at 17.10 local time for Free Practice 2.
