Russia, FP2: Monteiro back on top in wet WTCC session
"It was a good session for us"
Tiago Monteiro returned to the head of the field in Free Practice 2 for FIA WTCC ROSNEFT Race of Russia, which took place on a damp Moscow Raceway.
Conditions did improve during the session and Monteiro set his benchmark of 1m55.309s on his final lap of the 3.931-kilometre layout.
As in the dry, it was Honda and LADA competing over the top positions. Monteiro’s Honda team-mates Norbert Michelisz and Rob Huff were second and fourth, with LADA drivers Gabriele Tarquini and Hugo Valente third and fifth.
“It was a good session for us and the car was feeling good in the damp or dry,” said Monteiro. “We should be in good shape no matter if it’s dry or damp in Qualifying. If it’s wet it will be an unknown quantity but the car felt good, the balance was good and we’re feeling positive.”
Best among the WTCC Trophy drivers, James Thompson took sixth on his latest appearance in the ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Chevrolet, ahead of Yvan Muller and Mehdi Bennani in the best of the Citroëns. Ferenc Ficza was ninth for Zengő Motorsport in front of the world championship leader José María López.
The teams now have two hours to prepare for Qualifying at 14h00 local time.
WTCR
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- Malaysia, Race 2: Guerrieri wins to set-up final-round title decider with Michelisz
- Malaysia, Race 1: Michelisz triumph to extend points lead
- New tracks plus weight rule tweak as WTCR revs up for next three seasons