Monza, FP1 : Tarquini in a Chevrolet sandwich

Gabriele Tarquini’s SEAT was sandwiched by the Chevrolet cars of Rob Huff and Yvan Muller at the end of the first free practice session.

The drivers found a tricky track after a night shower and most of them had moments missing the braking point at the first chicane or driving wide at Lesmo.

Huff was the first one to go under the 2:01. Mark, completing a lap in 2:00.183 in the early stages, a time that eventually proved to be good enough to remain on top of the time sheet.
Halfway through the session Muller set a provisional second fastest lap of 2:00.518, but a few minutes later the reigning world champion was demoted to third by Tarquini’s 2:00.492. The latter improved further to 2:00.292 to rank second in the practice.

Kristian Poulsen emerged as the best of the Yokohama Trophy competitors and the BMW drivers; the Dane posted a lap of 2:00.580 to claim fourth position overall, ahead of Tiago Monteiro, Tom Coronel and Alain Menu.

Franz Engstler was sidelined in the second half of the session after his BMW remained stranded in the gravel bed at the Parabolica.