BMW looking strong in Portugal

BMW Team RBM’s Andy Priaulx (1:56.810) finished quickest in Portimão testing as the FIA WTCC prepares for its first ever event at the Autódromo Internacional de Algarve this weekend.

The WTCC drivers had their first taste of the 4.6km circuit in beaming sunshine this afternoon with Rob Huff’s last lap of 1:56.890 splitting the BMW’s at the top, demoting Augusto Farfus (1:56.890) to third.

Local hero Tiago Monteiro (1:57.149) finished fourth in the top SEAT León TDI for SR-Sport. Series newcomer Colin Turkington (1:57.189) made an impressive debut to finish fifth overall and top of the Independents in his eBay Motors BMW 320si.

Chevrolet’s Yvan Muller (1:57.191) and Alain Menu (1:57.376) were sixth and seventh ahead of SR-Sport teammates Jordi Gené (1:57.797) and Gabriele Tarquini (1:57821). Hong Kong’s Darryl O’Young (1:58.172) rounded out the top ten putting in some strong lap times once again to finish as top Rookie and second in the Independents. His bamboo-engineering teammate Harry Vaulkhard (1:58.548) was 12th overall finishing third fastest Independent and second quickest Rookie.

Scuderia Proteam Motorsport’s Stefano D’Aste only completed five laps before spinning at T7 and having to sit out the remainder of the session.