Mattias Ekstrom was the quickest man in first free practice for the DTM at the Norising. The Swede beat Abt Audi teammate Oliver Jarvis to the fastest time by just 0.015 seconds.
The 90 minute session began with a very wet track after heavy rain in the morning, but the Nuremburg circuit dried out over the course of the session.
Maro Engel was the best of the Mercedes runners in third place, just ahead of four other Mercedes drivers – Christian Vietoris, Bruno Spengler, Susie Stoddart and Gary Paffett.
Championship leader and winner of the previous two rounds Martin Tomczyk was eighth, with Renger van der Zande and Timo Scheider rounding out the top ten.
Mike Rockenfeller, making his return after missing the Lausitz race following his Le Mans shunt, was 11th fastest. He was just ahead of Jamie Green, winner of the last three races at the Norisring.
| Pos. | Driver | Team/Car | Laps | Time | Gap |
| 1. | Mattias Ekström | Abt Audi | 41 | 48.867 | |
| 2. | Oliver Jarvis | Abt Audi | 43 | 48.882 | 00.015 |
| 3. | Maro Engel | Mucke Mercedes | 44 | 48.974 | 00.107 |
| 4. | Christian Vietoris | Persson Mercedes | 44 | 49.001 | 00.134 |
| 5. | Bruno Spengler | HWA Mercedes | 47 | 49.019 | 00.152 |
| 6. | Susie Stoddart | Persson Mercedes | 47 | 49.067 | 00.200 |
| 7. | Gary Paffett | HWA Mercedes | 42 | 49.131 | 00.264 |
| 8. | Martin Tomczyk | Phoenix Audi | 50 | 49.162 | 00.295 |
| 9. | Renger van der Zande | Persson Mercedes | 55 | 49.174 | 00.307 |
| 10. | Timo Scheider | Abt Audi | 39 | 49.189 | 00.322 |
| 11. | Mike Rockenfeller | Abt Audi | 45 | 49.201 | 00.334 |
| 12. | Jamie Green | HWA Mercedes | 44 | 49.295 | 00.428 |
| 13. | Miguel Molina | Abt Audi | 54 | 49.389 | 00.522 |
| 14. | David Coulthard | Mucke Mercedes | 43 | 49.397 | 00.530 |
| 15. | Edoardo Mortara | Rosberg Audi | 33 | 49.408 | 00.541 |
| 16. | Filipe Albuquerque | Rosberg Audi | 41 | 49.466 | 00.599 |
| 17. | Rahel Frey | Phoenix Audi | 43 | 50.428 | 01.561 |
| 18. | Ralf Schumacher | HWA Mercedes | 30 | 50.872 | 02.005 |
