Robin Frijns tops the first practice session at Brands Hatch

Audi Sport Team Abt’s Robin Frijns was fastest of all in the first free practice session around a drying Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit, with Audi occupying four of the top five positions at the end of the 25-minute session.

Robin Frijns was the first driver to break the 1:20 barrier as the track dried out after heavy rain overnight, setting a time of 1:19.986 with just over five minutes to go, but the Dutchman’s effort was soon surpassed with a fast lap from HWA Mercedes-AMG’s Daniel Juncadella, who topped the time sheets with a time of 1:19.716.

Frijns then struck back with just over a minute left, setting the best time before going faster still on his final tour, just over two-tenths of a second faster than Juncadella, with Audi stablemate Loїc Duval third.

Mike Rockenfeller and Nico Müller followed, completing a successful start to the weekend for Audi, with Edoardo Mortara sixth in his Mercedes ahead of reigning champion René Rast’s Audi.

Augusto Farfus, who had led the way for most of the session, wound up as the best-placed of the BMW drivers in eighth, just under eight-tenth of a second off the overall pace.

Championship leader Gary Paffett finished the session 15th, 1.4 seconds from the ultimate pace in his HWA Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM.

The second 25-minute free practice session follows imminently at 9:35 BST (10:35 CEST).