Jean-Karl Vernay tops first free practice at Monza
Jean-Karl Vernay was fastest in the first free practice session at Monza, Italy. The Frenchman was half a second quicker in his Team WRT Audi RS 3 LMS than Maxime Potty’s Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR, with Fabrizio Giovanardi third in his Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR.
Giovanardi had led the way after the first runs, but Vernay massively improved on that lap time by eight tenths to claim first with nine minutes to go. Shortly after that Potty also improved his lap, whereas Giovanardi was slightly slower on his second run.
Championship contender Mikel Azcona was fourth in his PCR Sport Cupra TCR, not far from Giovanardi and ahead of stable-mate Salvatore Tavano, who was half a second slower than the Spaniard. Dusan Borkovic finished sixth in his Target Competition Hyundai i30 N TCR, ahead of TCR UK championship regular Ollie Taylor in his Honda Civic Type R FK8 TCR.
Stian Paulsen was eighth fastest in his Cupra, just ahead of the PCR Sport Cupra of Danny Kroes, with TCR Europe debutant Cosimo Barberini completing the top ten in his Subaru WRX STi TCR.
The second free practice session is scheduled for 16:40 CEST.
