After two free practices in the opening round of TCR Europe at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, the differences between drivers are very short. In the second practice, the first twelve were separated by less than 1 second and in the first arrival of the cars to the Algarve track, the first 14 were all in this short difference.
Mat’o Homola (Janík Motorsport/Hyundai Elantra N TCR) was the first driver to set the fastest lap of the year in Practice 1, with a time of 1:52.276, 0.038s better than Jack Young (Halder Motorsport/Honda Civic Type R FK7 TCR).
Josh Files (Target Competition/Hyundai Elantra N TCR) had already been the first rider to run the fastest in Practice 1, but ended the session with the tenth fastest time. In the second practice he set the best record of the day, with a time of 1: 52.047s. The second session was marked by the good work of the pilots at the controls of the CUPRA Leon Competición TCR, which occupied 3 positions among the top five. Klim Gavrilov (Volcano Motorsport) was second fastest of the session, 0.242s off Files, followed by John Filippi (Sébastien Loeb Racing) and Isidro Callejas (Volcano Motorsport).
Portugal is represented in Portimão with two national pilots at the controls of two different machines, both rookies in the championship. Luís Cidade (Élite Motorsport by Comtoyou/Audi RS 3 LMS II TCR) was the fastest of the Portuguese duo, improving more than 1 second between one training session and another, allowing him to finish the day with the 7th best time (1: 52,629s). The young Gustavo Moura Jr. (Volcano Motorsport/CUPRA Leon Competición TCR), having made his CUPRA debut at TCR Spain last weekend, is in a learning phase, but still improved between sessions.
TCR Europe’s next outing to the track is for the qualifying session which is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 09:35.
Result of free practice 1:
Free practice result 2:
