Mattias Ekström starts fastest in France

Mattias Ekström topped the first test in France at the Le Mans circuit for the penultimate round of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. Second fastest was his team mate Tom Kristensen, only 0.048 seconds behind the Swede. Third fastest was the best Mercedes-driver, the Canadian Bruno Spengler, ahead of his team mate Jamie Green in fourth.

Championship leader was fifth fastest, but most importantly for him, faster than his championship rival Paul di Resta. Markus Winkelhock and Katherine Legge were between the rivals, with di Resta eight fastest, 0.385 seconds behind Ekström.

Bernd Schneider was ninth fastest ahead of Oliver Jarvis who rounded out top ten, half a second slower than Ekström.