WTCC: Ma quickest in practice at home

Citroen's Ma Qing Hua set the pace in both free practice sessions at the Shanghai International Circuit ahead of this weekend's World Touring Car Championship round.

The home favourite ended the second session six tenths quicker than second-place man Gregoire Demoustier's Bamboo Chevrolet with a time of 1m53.217s, after having also dominated the earlier practice session from start to finish.

Tom Chilton made an improvement on his practice one time of 1m52.494s to end the second practice session in third place. Chilton's ROAL teammate Tom Coronel, though running without the updates of the sister car, ended the second session in fourth with a time of 1m52.180s.

Championship leader Jose Maria Lopez rounded off the top five with a time of 1m52.307s.

Further down the order there was confusion for the Hondas of Gabriele Tarquini and Tiago Monteiro as both drivers tumbled down the timesheet in the second of the two sessions.

They ultimately placed 11th and 16th respectively, despite a stronger showing in the earlier run when both were in the top five and Monteiro was Ma's closest rival.

Originally on Autosport.com