Thompson quickest in Imola practice
James Thompson marked the official reopening of the Imola circuit by topping the times in this morning's opening WTCC practice session
Thompson hustled his under-developed N.Technology Honda Accord around the revamped track in 1:55.650s, edging out the SEAT of closest rival Gabriele Tarquini by just 0.09s.
Tarquini, who will carry 64kg of success ballast this weekend, had posted the fastest time during the extra half-hour test session at the Italian circuit on Friday afternoon.
Tom Coronel was third fastest in his petrol-powered SEAT ahead of Yvan Muller's works entry, while the quickest of the BMWs was in the hands of Independent driver Sergio Hernandez in sixth, four places ahead of Augusto Farfus in the first of the factory cars.
The slippery surface forced a number of drivers to catch lurid slides, but the session passed without incident until Ibrahim Okyay beached his Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport BMW with two minutes to go, bringing out the red flag.
Pos Driver Car Time 1. James Thompson Honda Accord Euro R 1:55.650 2. Gabriele Tarquini SEAT Leon TDI 1:55.740 +0.090 3. Tom Coronel SEAT Leon 1:55.750 +0.100 4. Yvan Muller SEAT Leon TDI 1:55.957 +0.307 5. Rickard Rydell SEAT Leon TDI 1:56.239 +0.589 6. Sergio Hernandez BMW 320si 1:56.247 +0.597 7. Pierre-Yves Corthals SEAT Leon 1:56.390 +0.740 8. Tiago Monteiro SEAT Leon TDI 1:56.399 +0.749 9. Robert Huff Chevrolet Lacetti 1:56.450 +0.800 10. Augusto Farfus BMW 320si 1:56.452 +0.802 11. Stefano D'aste BMW 320si 1:56.632 +0.982 12. Jorg Muller BMW 320si 1:56.638 +0.988 13. Andy Priaulx BMW 320si 1:56.655 +1.005 14. Nicola Larini Chevrolet Lacetti 1:56.919 +1.269 15. Franz Engstler BMW 320si 1:57.091 +1.441 16. Alessandro Zanardi BMW 320si 1:57.242 +1.592 17. Felix Porteiro BMW 320si 1:57.355 +1.705 18. Jordi Gene SEAT Leon TDI 1:57.559 +1.909 19. Alain Menu Chevrolet Lacetti 1:57.622 +1.972 20. Andrey Romanov BMW 320si 1:58.510 +2.860 21. Jaap van Lagen Lada 110 1:59.206 +3.556 22. George Tanev BMW 320si 1:59.208 +3.558 23. Ibrahim Okyay BMW 320si 1:59.534 +3.884 24. Viktor Shapovalov Lada 110 1:59.633 +3.983 25. Kirill Ladygin Lada 110 no time
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