Photo: WTCC Media

Gabriele Tarquini fastest in Sonoma second practice session

By

Lukoil Racing Team’s Gabriele Tarquini was fastest in the second free practice session ahead of Chevrolet’s Yvan Muller, with five SEATs in the top ten in a close session.

The top spot changed hands several times in the 30 minute session, with Muller the first to set a benchmark time of 1:47.501, but then Tarquini, Fernando Monje, Alain Menu and Tom Boardman all held the top spot before Tarquini set what would end up as the best time of the session, at 1:46.457.

Turn 2 proved to be a trouble spot for many drivers, namely the BMWs, with Tom Coronel, Alberto Cerqui, Stefano D’Aste, Franz Engstler and Norbert Michelisz all having short excursions at the corner.

The fastest BMW driver was Norbert Michelisz down in 12th, whilst five SEATs, three Chevrolets and two Fords occupied the top ten positions.

Yvan Muller wound up second fastest, just under three-tenths down on Tarquini, with SUNRED’s Tiago Monteiro third and STR’s Tom Boardman fourth fastest.

Rob Huff and Alain Menu were fifth and sixth for Chevrolet, ahead of the two SEATs of Aleksei Dudukalo and Fernando Monje, with the two Arena Fords of James Nash and Tom Chilton rounding out the top ten.

Qualifying is next for the WTCC at 14:15 PST.