Jordi Gené tops Free Practice 2

Jordi Gené was fastest for Craft-Bamboo Lukoil in Free Practice 2. The SEAT driver was one tenth quicker than Gianni Morbidelli’s Honda Civic, with Sergey Afanasyev in third.

Most of the session was actually dominated by Craft-Bamboo Lukoil, with Gené, Afanasyev and Pepe Oriola giving them a 1-2-3, later joined by local hero Munkong Sathienthirakul, who emerged as the fastest of the TCR Asia drivers. As the session progressed, however, Gianni Morbidelli came in to spoil the team’s party as he did an impressive long run, with laps consistently around Gené’s best.

Stefano Comini once again barely made it into the top ten as he tried slipstreaming with Target Competition team-mate Loris Hezemans. With five minutes to go, Alain Menu was able to get out of the pits and get a couple of laps in, finishing 20th overall.

Gené came home ahead of Morbidelli and Afanasyev, with Liqui Moly Team Engstler’s Lorenzo Veglia improving under the flag to go up to fourth. Oriola was therefore demoted to fifth ahead of WestCoast Racing’s Kevin Gleason, with Sathienthirakul seventh and fastest of the TCR Asia championship. René Munnich came home eighth ahead of Hezemans and Comini, who completed the top ten.

Hugo Valente was not able to repeat the remarkable results of the first Free Practice session and slipped off the top ten, finishing 13th. Robb Holland was not able to make it to the track due to technical issues still plaguing his Ford Focus.

The gaps between the drivers were very small and it all promises for a spectacular Qualifying session, which is scheduled at 15.00 local time.