Photo: WTCC

Norbert Michelisz fastest in first practice at the Hungaroring

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Norbert Michelisz showed pace from the off on his TCR International Series debut, with the Hungarian leading the field by seven-tenths of a second in the first practice session.

Michelisz, who will have all-new tyre sets this weekend as a first-time entry, led the way in his M1RA-run Honda Civic TCR, seven-tenths clear of early pace-setter Pepe Oriola in the Craft-Bamboo Racing SEAT León.

The two drivers were followed by Frédéric Vervisch, who made a late improvement in the Comtoyou Racing Audi RS 3 to go third, albeit a second off of Michelisz’s time.

Attila Tassi was fourth fastest in his M1RA Honda, the young Hungarian having turned 18 earlier this week, while Opel’s Mat’o Homola was fifth quickest in the DG Sport Compétition Opel Astra TCR.

Gianni Morbidelli was the best-placed of the Volkswagens in sixth, while Dusan Borkovic was the fastest of the Alfa Romeos in seventh.

Borkovic and his GE-Force team-mate Davit Kajaia, Comtoyou Racing’s Stefano Comini and M1RA’s Roberto Colciago all received final warnings from the race director for exceeding track limits at Turn 4, while James Nash is under investigation for having set his best time while the yellow flags were out at Turn 2 at the end of the session.

22 of the 26 entries this weekend were on track in practice. Both Anett Gyorgy and Csaba Toth skipped the session, with their DSG-equipped SEAT Leóns remaining in the paddock, while Daniel Nagy’s repaired SEAT León TCR and Ferenc Ficza’s new Kia Cee’d are on their way to the circuit and won’t take part until Free Practice 2 tomorrow.

The other Kia Cee’d of Botka Rally Team’s driver Istvan Bernula therefore made the first International Series session debut for the STARD-built car, with the Hungarian ending up 20th on the time sheets.

The repaired Volkswagen Golf of Rob Huff was 21st as Team WRT shook down the new car, which amazingly has been fitted with the engine from the car he crashed last week at the Salzburgring, therefore avoiding an engine change penalty. Team-mate Jean-Karl Vernay was 22nd and last, also checking out his repaired Golf GTI, which was heavily damaged last week in Austria.

The next practice session is Free Practice 1 at 12:15 CET tomorrow.