Hungarian youngster Norbert Michelisz claimed pole position in Braga at the wheel of a SEAT León TDI car run by the SEAT Sport team. Again weather conditions were a factor, as the session began on a wet track that dried up completely towards the end. And strategy was crucial to choose the right moment to go for a fastest lap.
Weather and track conditions during Practice 2 were similar to the first session: the asphalt was wet, but began to dry up. After his earlier domination, James Thompson sat in his garage and watched. The same did Vincent Radermecker, whose Maurer Chevrolet Lacetti stubbornly refuses to start.
The first practice session took place on a wet track that dried up in the process. James Thompson and his Hartmann Honda Accord put in an impressive performance to make clear his ambitions to claim the European crown.
After a cautious start that was worth the second provisional fastest lap of 1:30.142, the Briton began to better his times, lap after lap.
Franz ENGSTLER (Liqui Moly Team Engstler)
“I used the first session only to get used to the track. With the wet in the second session I felt very comfortable and I completed a good number of laps that helped me working on the set up. I think that I have found a good compromise now that should enable me to set some quick laps, but also to be consistent in the races.”
The third and final test session started under heavy rain; the track was soaked which discouraged a number of drivers from taking part. Not James Thompson who set the fastest lap in his Hartmann Honda Accord, inflicting a gap of 9 tenths to Franz Engstler.
Drivers representing four car manufacturers – Honda, BMW, SEAT and Chevrolet –filled the top-five positions.
A light rain fell to disrupt today’s second test session and this resulted in only eight drivers hitting the track.
The first 30 minutes went by with nearly no action. Only Mikhail Zasadych’s Super Production BMW 320i car clocked a valid time of 1:36.117.
A few of the top drivers joined in the second half of the session.
SEAT Eurocup winner Norbert Michelisz, at the wheel of a SEAT León TDI car, set the fastest lap in the first of today’s three tests.
Twelve competitors took part in the session. The two Maurer Motorsport Chevrolet cars sat in their garages as the team worked to repair damaged obtained in the final round of the German Procar, and so did the two Sport-Garage Super Production machines.
