Photo: WTCC Media

Tom Coronel on top in first test at Curitiba

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Tom Coronel topped the time sheets in the Friday test session at Curitiba in Brazil, ahead of the Chevrolets of Rob Huff and Yvan Muller.

A timing error appeared to show Coronel’s laps were all deleted, with the Dutch driver’s best lap being over six-tenths of a second ahead of Rob Huff’s Chevrolet, but the times were later reported as being correct.

Swiss-driver Fredy Barth impressed to finish fourth in the SEAT, breaking under the 1:24 mark just ahead of experienced team-mate Gabriele Tarquini, whom had missed the morning’s 70 minute shakedown run.

Carlos ‘Cacá’ Bueno was sixth in his Chevrolet Cruze. The only Brazilian driver on the grid getting his first taste in the new turbocharged Cruze.

Kristian Poulsen was seventh in the Engstler Motorsport BMW 320 TC, just ahead team-mate Franz Engstler. The Polestar Racing Volvo of Robert Dahlgren was ninth fastest, with the Swedish driver setting the least laps in total during the session.

Spanish driver Javier Villa missed the session as he had the earlier shakedown test and so has not yet turned a lap in the Proteam Racing BMW 320 TC.

Aleksei Dudukalo, who damaged his Lukoil-SUNRED SEAT León in the shakedown also missed the afternoon test session.