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Berthon tops first Vallelunga practice as Muller crashes due to tyre failure

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Comtoyou Racing drivers Nathanaël Berthon and Gilles Magnus topped the first free WTCR practice session at Vallelunga, a session that was red flagged following a high-speed crash by Yvan Muller.

Muller went off at Turn 2, a sixth-gear corner, after his front left tyre failed. The Frenchman stopped with just light contact to the barriers thanks to a long gravel trap.

The Cyan Racing team opted to keep their cars for the final seven minutes of the session after the track had been cleared to assess the tyre situation.

Berthon headed team-mate Magnus by just 0.059 seconds while Néstor Girolami was fastest of the Honda drivers in third position, 0.151 seconds from the top time.

Mehdi Bennani made it four Audis in the top four, heading the Hyundai duo of Norbert Michelisz and Mikel Azcona in positions five and six.

The Engstler Honda duo of Attila Tassi and Tiago Monteiro rounded off the top eight.

Ma Qing Hua was fastest of the Lynk & Co drivers in eleventh positions, with the Swedish squad struggling with tyre issues.

The Honda team also reported tyre issues during the session.

The second free practice session is scheduled for 12:15 CEST.