Vila Real, Tests: Michelisz and Honda ahead in Portugal
Robert Dahlgren was 14th fastest upon his return to the WTCC
Honda ace Norbert Michelisz posted the best time in testing ahead of the FIA WTCC Race of Portugal in Vila Real.
Michelisz took second place in the closing stages of the session behind team-mate Rob Huff before improving with his final effort, a 1m58.673s, to top the opening WTCC action on the historic street circuit.
Yvan Muller moved up into second place for Citroën with his final lap, just 0.087s slower than Michelisz. That pushed Huff down to third ahead of points leader José María López.
LADA drivers Hugo Valente and Nicky Catsburg completed the top six, split by less than half a tenth. Tom Chilton was seventh as the leading WTCC Trophy driver, while home hero Tiago Monteiro was eighth in the third and final factory Honda.
Thed Björk and Tom Coronel rounded out the top 10 in the first of the Volvos and Chevrolets respectively.
Robert Dahlgren was 14th fastest upon his return to the WTCC in the second Polestar Cyan Racing Volvo.
Pos. | Driver | Team | Car | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Norbert Michelisz | Honda Racing Team JAS | Honda | 1:58.673 |
2 | Yvan Muller | Citroen Total WTCC | Citroen | 1:58.760 |
3 | Rob Huff | Honda Racing Team JAS | Honda | 1:58.891 |
4 | Jose Maria Lopez | Citroen Total WTCC | Citroen | 1:59.960 |
5 | Hugo Valente | LADA Sport | Lada | 2:00.962 |
6 | Nicky Catsburg | LADA Sport | Lada | 2:01.010 |
7 | Tom Chilton | Sebastien Loeb Racing | Citroen | 2:01.249 |
8 | Tiago Monteiro | Honda Racing Team JAS | Honda | 2:01.894 |
9 | Thed Bjork | Polestar Cyan | Volvo | 2:02.441 |
10 | Tom Coronel | ROAL Motorsport | Chevrolet | 2:02.478 |
11 | Gabriele Tarquini | LADA Sport | Lada | 2:02.601 |
12 | John Filippi | Campos Racing | Chevrolet | 2:03.413 |
13 | Mehdi Bennani | Sebastien Loeb Racing | Citroen | 2:04.035 |
14 | Robert Dahlgren | Polestar Cyan | Volvo | 2:04.945 |
15 | Grégoire Demoustier | Sebastien Loeb Racing | Citroen | 2:05.277 |
16 | James Thompson | Munnich Motorsport | Chevrolet | 2:05.492 |
17 | Ferenc Ficza | Zengo | Honda | 2:06.426 |
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