Nicky Catsburg tops second practice at Termas de Río Hondo

Volvo Polestar driver Nicky Catsburg set the fastest time in the second free practice session at Termas de Río Hondo, with drivers taking special care because of the continuing heavy fog over the track.

The session start was delayed due to a red flag in the supporting Turismo Nacional practice, and was run with drivers ordered to keep their lights on at all times.

Series newcomer Zsolt Szabo had a difficult start of the session, with a fuel pump issue keeping him in the garage in the Zengõ Honda. The Hungarian managed to make it on the track, spinning at Turn 11 on his first flying lap. Szabo recovered to continue and complete the second free practice in 16th and last place.

Volvo’s Nicky Catsburg led the initial stages, to be beaten in quick succession by Honda drivers Norbert Michelisz and Tiago Monteiro. After the first half of the 45-minute session, it was Sebastien Loeb Racing’s Mehdi Bennani who was now on top.

Michelisz moved ahead after his second run, with team-mate and championship leader Tiago Monteiro going one better. Then local hero Esteban Guerrieri, as the fastest independent driver, put his Campos Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 on top, before Catsburg moved to the top of the tables with five minutes to go, with the Dutchman’s best time a 1:43.207.

Guerrieri finished second, four-tenths seconds behind, with the Hondas of Monteiro and Michelisz next, with the Portuguese driver half a second behind Catsburg.

Rob Huff was fifth in the Münnich Motorsport Citroën, followed by the Volvo of Néstor Girolami and then Bennani’s Citroën.

The other SLR’s Citroën of Tom Chilton was eighth, with Tom Coronel’s Chevrolet in ninth. Yann Ehrlacher in the RC Lada Vesta completed the top ten, with the Frenchman over a second and a half off the pace.

Qualifying is scheduled for 15:00 local time, 20:00 CET.