Andy Priaulx set the pace in the first practice session for the ninth and tenth rounds of the World Touring Car Championship, in Portimão. His time of 1:56.810 was the fastest of the day, as the majority of the field had their first taste of the Autodromo Internacional de Algarve.
It would have been a BMW Team RBM 1-2 if it wasn’t for Rob Huff, as on his final lap he set a time of 1:56.890 to go second, just piping Augusto Farfus’ time of 1:56.890. Local hero Tiago Monteiro was fourth with a time of 1:57.149 with series newcomer, Independent Colin Turkington putting in an impressive fifth with a 1:57.189.
Chevrolet team mates Yvan Muller and Alain Menu were sixth and seventh with times of 1:57.191 and 1:57.376 respectively with SEAT team mates Jordi Gene and Gabrielli Tarquini eighth and ninth clocking 1:57.797 and 1:57.821. Darryl O’Young rounded out the top ten with a time of 1:58.172 to finish top rookie.
Brit Harry Vaulkhard finished the session twelfth with a time of 1:58.548, making him the second fastest rookie. Stefano D’Aste only managed to complete five laps before spinning out, missing the remainder of the session.