Vila Real, Tests: Michelisz and Honda ahead in Portugal

Robert Dahlgren was 14th fastest upon his return to the WTCC

By Franck Drui

24 June 2016 - 15:28
Vila Real, Tests: Michelisz and (...)

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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