Photo: PSP Images

Augusto Farfus fastest in Zandvoort practice

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RBM BMW’s Augusto Farfus topped the time-sheets at Zandvoort with just eight minutes of free practice remaining, thanks to a last-gasp flying lap to take top spot with a 1m31.904s ahead of 2012 winner, Audi’s Edoardo Mortara.

Farfus is also the only driver who can halt Mike Rockenfeller’s championship charge, despite remaining 33-points behind the Phoenix Audi man.

Mortara underlined the RS 5 DTM’s strong pace around the Dutch circuit, after he set the pace earlier in the morning and remained there until Farfus’ knocked him from top-spot.

At the hour mark, the Italian was almost a second faster than eventual third place finisher, fellow Audi driver, Adrien Tambay.

However, the Italian was also the session’s sole spinner, after he spun coming out of the Tarzan corner and for a short-time, blocked the track as he tried to re-start his car.

DTM rookie, Marco Wittmann, once again underlined his impressive pace after finishing fourth in his MTEK run BMW, ahead of stable-mate Martin Tomczyk, and drivers’ championship leader, Mike Rockenfeller, who rounded out the top-six.

Mercedes appeared to struggle, with Christian Vietoris the best-placed of its drivers in 1oth, ahead of RMG BMW’sAndy Priaulx, who ended the session as the best of the British drivers.

Jamie Green was next up in 14th, with Mercedes’ Gary Paffett finishing 18th.