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Josh Files fears the Audis could be uncatchable at Hockenheim

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Josh Files was the closest threat to the Audis in practice at Hockenheim, but the two-time TCR Germany champion, who has more experience of the German circuit than most, fears the pace of the Audis will be a problem for the Hyundais this weekend.

With compensation weight also kicking in, the Hyundais are running 30kg heavier than their rivals this weekend, which has played into the two Audi drivers hands, with WRT driver Santiago Urrutia topping both practice sessions, with Comtoyou Racing’s Gilles Magnus joining him in the top two in FP2.

“I think we have an excellent balance in the car, and I put a really good lap together, I just don’t think we have the pace of the Audis,” said Files to TouringCarTimes.

“It’s a matter now of maximising everything, and if we can do that maybe we can replicate the time (Santiago) Urrutia did, but if he finds anything else, that’s it,” he added.

“The rest of the events on the calendar, Spa, Red Bull Ring, Monza, Barcelona, all really suit the Audi – but the Hyundai is a great car, and everyone knows we are running heavy this weekend – I think we can get to them, but their race pace is going to be unreal.”