Norbert Michelisz tops first free practice at Macau

Honda’s Norbert Michelisz was fastest in the opening free practice session on the streets of Macau. Eight-time Guia Race winner Rob Huff was second in his Münnich Motorsport Citroën C-Elysée, with stable-mate Tom Chilton grabbing third just under the chequered flag.

The session was briefly halted three minutes in for what appeared to be a technical issue for Zengo Motorsport’s Dániel Nagy, with the Hungarian’s Honda Civic just outside the pit lane, forcing the officials to remove it.

Michelisz then set his best time soon after the session restarted.

Huff launched his assault to take the fastest time after a pit stop midway through the session, but the Münnich Motorsport driver was three tenths slower than the leader despite an impressive run of quick laps.

Tom Chilton demoted Sébastien Loeb Racing team-mate Mehdi Bennani to fourth just as the session ended, after the Moroccan crashed at the Melco hairpin and his car was recovered by the marshals. Series returnee Ma Qing Hua completed a good day for Citroën by finishing fifth.

Nestor Girolami was the fastest Polestar Cyan Racing driver in sixth, just ahead of Honda’s Ryo Michigami. Esteban Guerrieri’s return to the streets of Macau after ten years saw him end up in eighth place, ahead of Volvo’s Nicky Catsburg and championship leader Thed Björk.

The Swede took a steady approach as a Macau rookie, and gradually found more speed in his S60 as the session went on, ending up 2.6 seconds slower than his title rival.

Action will resume tomorrow at 9:15 local time for the second free practice of the weekend.