Farfus sets a new record at Curitiba

Local hero Augusto Farfus emerged as the fastest driver in the Friday’s 30-minute test session. The BMW Team Germany man set the fastest lap ever clocked by a WTCC car in Curitiba at 1:24.704, beating his own pole position time from 2006 (1:24.761).
SEAT Sport driver Gabriele Tarquini was second fastest, just 0.079 seconds behind the Brazilian.

Rickard Rydell in his first run in his SEAT Leon was third fastest, 0.223 down.
With another SEAT driver, Jordi Gené eventually slotted into 4th at the last minute, 0.241 behind the leader.

Nicola Larini put his Chevrolet Lacetti in fifth place, making three manufacturers in the top 5. His time was 1.25.040 spending much of the session near the top of the time sheet.

Other BMW drivers, defending Champion Andy Priaulx and Jörg Müller had respectable sessions, running amongst the top five for many laps, with Müller even clocking the provisional fastest lap at one stage. However, as other drivers improved they dropped places, finishing in 6th and 7th respectively.

In total four drivers – Müller, Farfus, Larini and Tarquini – enjoyed spells at the top as the session went.

There were a few moments of excitement when Olivier Tielemans and Franz Engstler went wide at turn 1, Top Coronel clipped the tyres at the end of the pit straight, Zanardi spun at turn 2 but rejoined and Okyay spun at turn 9 hitting the tyre wall with the rear of the car.

In the Independents’ category Sergio Hernández topped the class with a time of 1.26.146 in his BMW 320si, which placed him 14th after the chequered flag.