World Touring: Lopez, van Lagen set Nordschleife pace

World Touring Car Championship leader Jose Maria Lopez ended Friday practice on the Nurburgring Nordschleife fastest for Citroen, while new Lada recruit Jaap van Lagen was quickest in the wet.

The first practice session started behind schedule and was cut down to 45 minutes owing to localized fog covering the grand prix loop and northeastern portion of the circuit.

Conditions proved so treacherous that Mehdi Bennani, Ma Qing Hua, Stefano D'Aste and Gregoire Demoustier all skated off on their out-laps. Only Bennani got as far as the barriers.

Only seven drivers risked more than two flying laps, and after spells on top for Lopez and Hungaroring race-winning Honda privateer Norbert Michelisz, van Lagen set a benchmark of 10m17.981s. His team-mate Rob Huff made it a Lada one-two.

RML Chevrolet drivers Hugo Valente and Tom Chilton were the very last to emerge from the garages, and 2005 Nurburgring 1000km winner Chilton's best time was good enough for third overall, albeit 5.2s off van Lagen's benchmark.

The rain ceased an hour before the second practice session, although some areas of the track remained wreathed in light mist.

Sebastien Loeb and then Lopez quickly sliced two minutes from their previous bests to go quickest of all for Citroen, with teammates Yvan Muller and Ma in close attendance and satellite entry Bennani a further two seconds off the back of the leading C-Elysees.

Lopez later went out to try to better his 8m39.441s but fell just under a second short.

Valente, a podium finisher at the last round in his Campos Racing-prepared Chevrolet, broke up the Citroen monopoly shortly after the session's halfway point, going second fastest – and just 0.895s off Lopez's time – on his second flying lap.

Gabriele Tarquini was the fastest of the Honda drivers after a late effort with which he outpaced Bennani's time, lapping 2.832s down on Lopez.

Huff put Lada seventh quickest just before the checkered flag, further displacing Bennani, while first-session pacesetter van Lagen set a time 0.267s in arrears of his teammate as the clock ran down.

Bennani, Demoustier, John Filippi and Tom Coronel are running new engines this weekend and will therefore start from the back of the grid regardless of where they qualify later on Friday.

Bennani's is an enforced change after overheating in Hungary, while the Chevrolet drivers have upgraded to the latest engine spec.

Having been troubled by a vibration during Thursday's test, "Queen of the Ring" Sabine Schmitz struggled to find grip and balance and closed the first session outside the top 10. She then had to pit after just one timed lap in the second session while Munnich mechanics investigated a problem with the front-left corner.

PRACTICE ONE:

Practice two times to follow

Originally on Autosport.com