Alain Menu keeps form at Pau

Chevrolet’s Alain Menu – who was the fastest in yesterday’s testing – topped the timesheets again in the second free practice session at Pau. His time of 1:22.795 demoted Yvan Muller to second quickest by almost half a second. Muller’s SEAT Sport team-mate Gabriele Tarquini was third fastest, 0.631 of a second off the pace.

Tom Coronel, clocked an impressive 1:23.494 placing him fourth overall for GR Asia. Augusto Farfus set the best time for BMW in fifth place followed by Tiago Monteiro and Jörg Müller. The Brazilian clipped the barriers between Virage du Parc Beaumont and Virage Foch but he continued.

Müller only managed eight laps after he had the same problem at the very same place that sidelined him for the rest of the session.

Roberto Colciago also had a premature end to his time on the track after he crashed into the tyres at Virage Foch.

His SEAT Sport Italia León had to be removed by crane. Despite this, his early time of 1:23.860 was good enough to place him ninth overall and best independent.

Félix Porteiro set the eighth best time for BMW Team Italy-Spain ahead of his team-mate Alex Zanardi who just missed out on the top ten as 11th fastest. Rob Huff occupied tenth position with a lap of 1:23.958.

Olivier Tielemans of N.technology did not take part in the session due to the damage obtained from his crash in free practice one. His companion James Thompson set only the 22nd fastest time, immediately behind new-comer Anthony Beltoise.