First laps in Vila Real

WTCR competitors return to the streets of Vila Real, Portugal, for the fifth weekend of competition of the season. The Portuguese circuit is one of the fastest and most technical urban tracks of the year, courage and temerity are often rewarded on Tiago Monteiro's land. A good result in the Lusitanian streets could have a psychological impact on its winner and his opponents.

Published on 02/07/2022 à 12:23

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Urrutia and Ehrlacher under two minutes per lap

The two Lynk & Co drivers are the only two to have gone below the fateful barrier of two minutes per lap on the Portuguese track (1'59.612 and 1'59.880), the question being which of their opponents set their best time in passing by the joker round re-established in Vila Real. The session was very lively and the activity incessant. Everyone is keen to remember a route where no one has put the wheels back on since 2019 (the Portuguese race was contested in Estoril last year). Nathanaël Berthon admitted to having completely forgotten the track, 12th time of the session (2'01.641), the Audi driver will still have to work in the second free practice session to try to improve his performance and the settings of his RS3 LMS. Belgian team Comtoyou. The winner of the first race at Motorland Aragon, Gilles Magnus, finished just ahead of him in 11th (2'01.512). Mikel Azcona (Hyundai Motorsport) the World Cup leader finished 8th (2'01.429) in FP1 which he dominated at the start of the session with his teammate Norbert Michelisz. The Hungarian is 6th fastest (2'01.153). Yvan Muller, for his part, finished the session in 9th place in 2'01.437.

https://twitter.com/FIA_WTCR/status/1543172863217356803

Honda blows hot and cold.

Attila Tassi signs a convincing third time, 7 tenths behind the reference time. The Hungarian is the best of the Japanese brand's drivers. Tiago Monteiro, Esteban Guerrieri and Nestor Girolami had to settle for 13th, 14th and 15th fastest. The work begins for all these drivers who will be keen to fight at the front from the qualifying round held late in the afternoon at 17:00 p.m. local time (18:00 p.m. in France).