Menu on top of timesheets in Brno First Practice

Alain Menu was fastest in the first practice session at Brno, ahead of Tarquini’s SEAT and Rob Huff third, with Turkington the top BMW in fourth.

Menu lapped the 5.4km circuit in a lap of 2:11.500.

Andy Priaulx was sixth, whilst championship leader Yvan Muller was only 16th in the session.

The fastest rookie challenge driver was Norbert Michelisz, who took the lead of the category last time out at Brands Hatch. The Hungarian driver was 7th fastest.

Colin Turkington was fourth on his and EBay Motors first time at the track. Turkington set more laps than anyone else, and came away as both the fastest BMW and independent driver in the session.

Two other independents broke into the top ten, both the Proteam drivers, with Stefano D’Aste eighth and Sergio Hernández tenth. Their new team mate for this round Fabio Fabiani was 22nd and last though, almost seven seconds off the pace.