Yann Ehrlacher edges wet second practice in Russia
Champion-elect Yann Ehrlacher hit the front in a wet second practice session ahead of the WTCR season finale at the Sochi Autodrom.
Light rain had started to fall in the closing moments of FP1 earlier in the morning and would intensify before FP2 kicked off – leaving drivers to take on the challenge of a wet circuit for the first time.
Lap times would be around 12 seconds down on those seen in FP1, with Ehrlacher emerging with the best time at the wheel of his Lynk & Co 03 TCR; a lap of 2:30.467 enabling him to edge out the Cupra of Mikel Azcona.
Suggesting a close fight for pole could lie ahead in qualifying – which is also expected to be wet – the top three would be split by less than a tenth of a second after a late lap from Yvan Muller saw him take third spot.
Néstor Girolami was quickest of the Honda drivers in fourth spot ahead of team-mate Esteban Guerrieri with Gabriele Tarquini the best of the Hyundais in sixth ahead of his final weekend before retiring.
Rob Huff, Norbert Michelisz, Nathanaël Berthon and Attila Tassi then rounded out the top ten. Gilles Magnus, who had topped the dry opening session, ended up with the eleventh best time, with fellow Audi driver Frédéric Vervisch – currently second in the points – in 14th.
The two LADA Vestas in the hands of Kirill Ladygin and Mikhail Mityaev propped up the times in 19th and 20th, with both Tiago Monteiro and Jordi Gené sitting out the session.
Monteiro is undergoing checks in hospital after falling ill, whilst Gené suffered a high-speed off into the tyres in FP1 in his Cupra.
Qualifying is next up, starting at 15:00 local time/13:00 CET.
