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Petr Fulín quick in practice for his career-first flyaway race

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Petr Fulín finished the first free practice session in Thailand in sixth position in the Mulsanne Racing Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR, showing great pace in the much-improved Alfa as the European Touring Car Cup regular races in Asia for the first time.

Mulsanne Racing are fielding just the one car for Fulín this weekend as Michela Cerruti has been forced to stay at home due to illness, and the Czech driver was quick after bouncing back from technical issues on Friday, one of the top drivers on used tyres.

“I’m satisfied the car is much better than yesterday,” said Fulín to TouringCarTimes. “I think the three new guys in front of us had new tyres, and also Mat’o Homola had new front tyres. I had a good tyres, but not new tyres, so I’m happy with our pace.

“I don’t know whether I’ll able to do the same results as Sochi, as there are a lot of local hero drivers here with experience with their cars on this circuit, but I’d like to get into second qualifying.”

Thailand is Fulín’s first long haul race, after his touring car career so far has been limited to the ETCC calendar, which has travelled no further East than Portugal or West than Hungary.

“I have to say, the five-hours difference is a big handicap for me, but I had a comfortable flight on an Airbus A380 and spent a night in Bangkok which was a nice experience for me before coming Buriram,” he added.

Fulín is set to have two more appearances after Thailand with the team, only missing Malaysia due to the clash with the final round of the ETCC in Italy where he is in contention for this third title.

“I will be in Singapore, and Macau also I think. Maybe the team will decide another way, but I hope that I will be in Macau. I know this track only from the simulator, but I remember the times when I watched TV and saw the WTCC there and now I’m here, and I have to thank my team that they selected me.”