Photo: WTCR Media

Norbert Michelisz pips Santiago Urrutia to fastest in final free practice

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Norbert Michelisz was fastest in the second free practice session at Adria. The Hyundai driver demoted Lynk & Co’s Santiago Urrutia just before the flag fell, lapping half a tenth quicker than the 03 TCR driver.

Gilles Magnus was a very close third for Comtoyou after having led the way in this morning’s practice, ahead of Jean-Karl Vernay’s Hyundai.

Thed Björk finished fifth ahead of team-mate and points leader Yann Ehrlacher, while Gabriele Tarquini was seventh fastest despite a late spin at Turn 4, doing brilliantly to keep his Elantra N TCR out of the barriers and rejoining shortly thereafter.

Frédéric Vervisch was eighth in his Comtoyou Audi, ahead of the top-placed Honda Civic TCR driven by Attila Tassi. Nathanaël Berthon completed the top ten in his Audi.

Championship contender Esteban Guerrieri went no further than 13th in his Honda, while local hero Nicola Baldan in Target Competition’s single-entry Elantra finished 19th and two seconds off the pace, only ahead of Cupra’s Mikel Azcona and Jordi Gené.

Several minor lock-ups and slides happened during the session, a testament to the track being very green and the cold temperatures.

A rather bizarre incident saw Girolami and Urrutia almost making contact likely due to a misunderstanding, the two managing to avoid any damages and carrying on.

Next up is qualifying at 15:30 CET.