BMW on top in first practise

BMW driver Jörg Müller was fastest during the first test session at Pau (France), where this weekend the fourth round of the 2009 World Touring Car Championship season is held. The German lapped the track in a time of 1:23.522. With that time he was just over two tenths of a second quicker than his team mate Augusto Farfus, who finished in second.

Best of the SEAT factory drivers was Yvan Muller, who set the third quickest time. He was just 0.011s slower than Farfus. His team mate Gabriele Tarquini finished the session in fifth, behind BMW driver Andy Priaulx.

Normally, the Chevrolets do very well on street tracks. But during the first test session this was not the case yet.

Perhaps harmed by the maximum success balast, the first Chevrolet, driven by Alain Menu, was down in sixth place and eight tenths off the pace. Nicola Larini finished in 11th, Rob Huff was 16th.

The petrol powered SEAT Léon’s are feeling at home at the French track as well. Three of the privateer entered Léon TFSI’s ended in the top ten. Marin Colak was quickest in seventh, followed by Tom Coronel and Tom Boardman in 8th and 9th.