Yvan Muller continued his unbeaten start to the 2013 World Touring Car Championship to top both practice sessions ahead of qualifying for the Race of Morocco in Marrakech, but not far ahead of the factory Hondas.
After heavy rain forced the cancellation of any running on Friday at the African street circuit, Monza double winner Muller posted the fastest time of the first practice session on Saturday. His time of 1m46.093s in his RML Chevrolet however was only 0.032 seconds faster than that of Honda man Gabriele Tarquini.
Tom Chilton was within 0.075s of teammate Muller in third place, while Norbert Michelisz put his Zengo-entered Honda in fourth place, half a second off the pace.
James Thompson was a strong sixth for Lada, 0.6s away from Muller and ahead of top BMW runner Tom Coronel and the independent Chevrolets of Michel Nyjkaer and Monza podium finisher Alex MacDowall.
Tiago Monteiro was ninth in the second factory Honda, with Fernando Monje the best SEAT in tenth spot.
In the second session , Muller lowered his time to a 1m44.991, while Chilton also improved to sit just 0.059s behind his teammate.
MacDowall took third spot in a repeat of the top three from Monza’s first race, ahead of the Hondas of Monteiro and Tarquini. Nykjaer was sixth, but still within less than half a second of Muller.
James Nash was seventh in his Chevrolet, with Pepe Oriola, Thompson and Coronel completing the top ten.
