DTM: Wittmann's BMW sets practice pace

Reigning DTM champion Marco Wittmann led the way for BMW in first practice for this weekend's round at Moscow Raceway.

As a result of the Munich marque's lean 2015, most of its drivers are running significantly lighter than their Audi and Mercedes rivals in Russia, and BMW ended the session with six drivers inside the top nine.

Wittmann was the man atop the times, thanks to a lap of 1m29.076s set in the first half of the 45 minutes. He ended the session 0.264 seconds faster than championship leader Mattias Ekstrom, whose Audi is 30kg heavier than Wittmann's BMW through the performance weight system.

Bruno Spengler was third, and joined in the top end by BMW stablemates Augusto Farfus and Antonio Felix da Costa in fifth and sixth, and Martin Tomczyk and Timo Glock in eighth and ninth.

Edoardo Mortara and Miguel Molina were fourth and seventh for Audi, while it was a tough session for Mercedes. Daniel Juncadella was its best driver in 10th, just ahead of Gary Paffett, while Pascal Wehrlein was 16th, one spot ahead of Paul di Resta, whose run in the initial shakedown session was curtailed by an off at Turn 1.

Confirmed by Audi on Friday morning as the suspended Timo Scheider's replacement, Formula 3 European Championship leader Antonio Giovinazzi was 23rd in his first DTM session.

Under series rules, Giovinazzi will adopt the same performance weight as Audi's leading driver, and along with Ekstrom will be the heaviest driver in the field during his DTM debut.

PRACTICE ONE TIMES:

Originally on Autosport.com