Photo: Citroën Racing

José María López tops red flagged FP1 at the Slovakiaring

Citroën Total WTCC team’s José María López was fastest for the second consecutive session in his C-Elysée WTCC, again the only driver in the 2:05s, finishing the session ahead of Zengõ Motorsport’s Norbert Michelisz.

The 30 minute session was relatively uneventful, except for a late off for Campos Racing’s Hugo Valente who found himself in the gravel trap in the second sector, bringing out the yellow flags, before Rob Huff’s Lada GRanta ground to a halt bringing out the red flag with one minute to go.

López set his best time early in the session, and was just two-tenths faster than Michelisz’s Honda, with López’s Citroën team-mate Yvan Muller third.

Sébastien Loeb made it three Citroëns in the top four, with Gabriele Tarquini the fastest of the factory Hondas in fifth.

Tom Chilton ended up as the fastest of the Chevrolets in sixth, while Petr Fulín, returning to the Championship for the first time since Marrakech and also racing in the ETCC this weekend, was fastest in the TC2T class in his Campos Racing SEAT León WTCC.

The next free practice session is at 11:50 CET.