Photo: TCR Series

Rob Huff leads the Hyundais in Free Practice 1 at Zhejiang

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Rob Huff topped the first official practice session for the TCR International Series at the Zhejiang International Circuit, depring the BRC Racing Hyundais of a 1-2 result, after setting the fastest time right at the end of the 30-minute session in his Team WRT Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR.

Menu put TCR’s latest manufacturer at the top of the time sheets during the first ten minutes of the session, but was just pipped by Tarquini at the half-way mark, with the Italian going just a tenth of a second faster, with the Hyundais making the most of their all-new tyre allocation.

With most teams running with used tyres, only the new entries this weekend have the advantage of just fresh Michelin tyres for Free Practice 1, including the two ZZZ Team Audi RS 3s of Jiang Tengyi and Zheng Zhen Dong, and the SEAT of Denis Dupont.

Pepe Oriola made a late improvement to go fourth in his Craft-Bamboo Racing SEAT León, just ahead of WestCoast Racing’s Gianni Morbidelli, and with the other Team WRT Volkswagen of Jean-Karl Vernay sixth, with the circuit favouring the short wheelbase Volkswagen and SEATs.

Behind Vernay, Davit Kajaia was seventh in the GE-Force Alfa Romeo ahead of team-mate Dusan Borkovic, with Roberto Colciago, the fastest of the M1RA Honda Civics in ninth, with Craft-Bamboo SEAT driver James Nash completing the top ten.

Newcomer Denis Dupont’s session ended early after the Belgian spun and hit the barriers with the rear of his SEAT León at Turn 3, damaging the left-rear wheel of his car, and slowly brought his car back to the pits.

Soon after Dupont’s error, TCR returnee Rafaela Galiana in the WestCoast Racing Volkswagen was spun after contact with Frédéric Vervisch’s Comtoyou Racing Audi at Turn 6, but was able to continue.

Championship leader Attila Tassi struggled in the session, with his M1RA Honda finishing down in 17th, 1.7 seconds off the pace, just one place behind championship rival Stefano Comini in the Comtoyou Racing Audi RS 3 LMS.

The next session is Free Practice 2, which takes place at 12:00 CST (06:00 CET).