Tarquini tops first practice at Imola

Gabriele Tarquini topped the time sheets in his SEAT Léon TDI for first practice for the eighth round of the season at Imola. Countryman Alex Zanardi was second fastest in the ROAL Motorsport BMW 320si.

Tom Coronel was the top independant in fourth place, now no longer in his final race – now that the Sunred will run his car to the end of the season with backing from McGregor.

James Thompson has returned after racing in the V8 Supercar Series last weekend, and was the fastest of the Lada Priora’s in 17th.

Newcomer Fabio Fabiani was quite off the pace in his BMW, almost four seconds down on the next slowest car, Kirill Ladygin’s Lada.