Chevrolet tops first Macau test

The opening test session of the final even on the WTCC calendar revealed Nicola Larini as fastest. At the wheel of his Chevrolet Lacetti the Italian completed a lap through the streets of Macau in 2:34.912. The second fastest, also a Chevrolet driver, was Alain Menu. Menu’s time was 0.119 of a second slower than that of his team mate.

Rickard Rydell was the best of the SEAT Sport drivers setting the third best time overall – 2:35.360. Behind him on the timesheet was BMW man and reigning champion Andy Priaulx who clocked his best time of 2:35.540 on his final lap. Yvan Muller rounded off the top five, 0.952 of a second off the top pace.

Augusto Farfus, the championship leader was 14th fastest and the best of the N.technology Alfa Romeo trio, his car carrying the maximum 80kg handicap weight.

The other title claimants besides Farfus, Rydell, Muller and Priaulx occupied the following positions at the end of today’s session: James Thompson 7th, Jörg Müller 11th, Gabriele Tarquini 13th, Peter Terting 15th and Dirk Müller 16th.

Local drivers André Couto (SEAT Leon) and Ao Chi Hong (BMW 320i) set the 12th and 24th best lap respectively, while the third newcomer to the championship, Jan Magnussen, was 21st fastest in his BMW UK car.

Tom Coronel, who has already claimed the Independents’ Trophy was 17th quickest overall and best independent behind the wheel of his GR Asia SEAT Leon.

Two independent drivers suffered crashes. On his first flying lap Stefano D’Aste was entering the Lisboa bend when his front right tyre flew off and he went straight down the run off area, spinning and hitting the barriers.

Later in the session Diego Romanini went wide at the ‘R’ bend and strayed into the barrier, badly damaging his Wiechers-Sport BMW 320i. As a result the session was red-flagged but resumed shortly after.