Nicki Thiim on top in Free Practice 1 at Portimao
Liqui Moly Team Engstler’s new signing Nicki Thiim was on top in the first free practice session on Saturday at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in the Audi TT Coupé, over half a second clear of WestCoast Racing’s Gianni Morbidelli in the Honda Civic TCR.
In the sunny conditions at the Algarve circuit, after the SEATs of Craft-Bamboo Lukoil led the early running, Gianni Morbidelli briefly put his Honda on top before Thiim took over, holding position one for the last half of the session. The Dane first set a time of 1:54.118, but later improved again to be the first driver under 1:54 this weekend with a time of 1:53.929.
There were only two minor dramas in the 30-minute session, with Igor Skuz first beaching his WestCoast Racing Honda Civic in the gravel at Turn 11 and required rescuing before the ten-minute mark. Also, the second Audi TT of Kelvin van der Linde stopped in the final sector on his out-lap and wasn’t able to do any running in the session.
15 cars took part of the 17 entered. Liqui Moly Team Engstler’s Mikhail Grachev is still awaiting a late delivery of his SEAT León Racer after the last minute switch from the Audi TT, while Portuguese driver Armando Parente did not take part, with just Oscar Nogués representing the Campos Racing Opels, finishing 12th fastest, 2.2 seconds off the pace.
A number of drivers were warned for exceeding the track limits at the final corner, including Craft-Bamboo Lukoil drivers Jordi Gené and Pepe Oriola, Engstler’s Lorenzo Veglia, Target Competition’s Stefano Comini, Veloso Motorsport’s José Monroy and WestCoast Racing’s Igor Skuz, with Veglia and Comini both called to the stewards after the session for multiple offences.
The next practice session is due to take place at 11:10 WEST.
