Audi powered to the top of the times in the first free practice session today for the DTM series as it makes is annual British visit to Brands Hatch.
Leading the way on the times after the 90 minute session was Swedish driver Mattias Ekström who set a best time of 42.019 seconds around the Indy configuration of the circuit with a total of 76 laps.
Timo Scheider, Miguel Molina, Alexandre Prémat and Markus Winkelhock places second to fifth place respectively with the first of the Mercedes drivers being that of British driver Gary Paffet just 0.198 seconds down from the lead Audi.
Fellow Brits Paul di Resta and Oliver Jarvis followed with Bruno Spengler and Mike Rockenfeller rounding out the top 10.
David Coulthard completed a total of 52 laps but could only manage a time good enough for sixteenth place on his first racing visit to Brands Hatch in 20 years.
The practice session has shown some interesting results for tyre manufacturers Dunlop after the new asphalt changed the grip levels of the Kent circuit.
“The round in Great Britain promises a lot of excitement”, says Dunlop's motorsport manager Michael Bellmann. “Brands Hatch was resurfaced. The drivers first have to determine the grip level of the circuit. After Dunlop's experts have analysed the surface of the track, it is clear: the new asphalt isn't as raw as last year, but provides similar grip levels, so that all the required settings change as a result” added Bellmann.