Photo: WTCC Media

Pepe Oriola heads the first practice session at Sonoma Raceway

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Tuenti Racing Team’s Pepe Oriola led the way throughout the 30 minute Free Practice 1 session at Sonoma Raceway, which was briefly red flagged after Tom Coronel crashed out at the hairpin.

The ROAL Motorsport driver crashed into the tyre wall at Turn 11 on his first timed lap which brought out the red flag.

When the session restarted, the Chevrolet drivers jumped to the top of time sheets, with Pepe Oriola leading the two RML Chevrolets of Tom Chilton and Yvan Muller.

The Hondas all had issues at Turn 9, with Gabriele Tarquini, Tiago Monteiro and Norbert Michelisz all cutting the chicane, whilst the Liqui Moly Engstler BMWs of Charles Ng and Franz Engstler both had spins up the hill at Turn 2.

Once Oriola set the benchmark of 1:45.966, that time was never bettered throughout the rest of the session.

Gabriele Tarquini finished as the top non-Chevrolet, fourth in his Honda Civic ahead of the Münnich Motosport SEAT León of Rob Huff.

Franz Engstler was the fastest of the Yokohama Drivers’ Trophy entrants in sixth, with Michelisz, Marc Basseng, Stefano D’Aste and Tom Boardman completing the top ten.

The second free practice session takes place at 11:00 PST.