Chevrolet drivers Rob Huff and Alain Menu posted the fastest times in the two practice sessions on Saturday morning ahead of qualifying for the World Touring Car Championship season opener at Monza.
Huff was quickest in the first session, 0.241 seconds ahead of Gabriele Tarquini in his Lukoil SEAT. The other two factory Chevrolets of Yvan Muller and Menu followed in third and fourth, the duo separated by just 0.001s. Norbert Michelisz was the best Yokohama Trophy runner in fifth, one place ahead of Tiago Montiero – who's driving a SEAT Leon TDI this weekend.
Rickard Rydell was seventh in his Chevrolet, ahead of Spanish youngster Pepe Oriola and German veteran Franz Engstler. James Nash took the Team Aon Ford Focus into the top ten on its debut WTCC weekend.
Menu was best in the second session, narrowly improving on Huff's benchmark by 0.03s, but going more than half a second quicker than anyone else in the session. Tarquini was again second best, just ahead of Huff, while Oriola took an impressive fourth, just edging out Muller.
Tarquini's teammate and pupil Aleksei Dudukalo was sixth in his SEAT, ahead of WTCC debutants Alex MacDowall and Alberto Cerqui. BMW drivers Michelisz and Tom Coronel completed the top ten.
Qualifying takes place at 14:30 local time, 13:30 UK time.