Photo: TCR Media

Pepe Oriola leads the way in Singapore FP1

Pepe Oriola started the Singapore weekend in style by finishing the first Free Practice session on top of the standings, with Craft-Bamboo Lukoil team-mate Sergey Afanasyev in second and WestCoast Racing’s Gianni Morbidelli in third, the two separated from the championship leader by more than four tenths.

Kevin Gleason’s Honda came fourth, almost six tenths off the pace, with only the top four runners within a second of the leader. Loris Hezemans was the leading Target Competition SEAT León in fifth, 1.7s off the leader, ahead of Craft-Bamboo Lukoil’s Jordi Gené and former championship leader Stefano Comini.

Mikhail Grachev put the Volkswagen Golf in eighth, ahead of Liqui Moly Team Engstler team-mate Lorenzo Veglia’s SEAT, with René Münnich completing the top ten on his return to the TCR International Series.

Fernando Monje, also returning to the championship in his Campos Racing Opel Astra OPC, finished 13th, just ahead of the first TCR Asia competitor, Roadstar Racing’s George Chou.

The new Subaru WRX TCR, with Luca Rangoni at the wheel, did not complete a lap during the session.

Next up is Free Practice 2, which takes place shortly after the first session.