Norbert Michelisz

Néstor Girolami enjoyed the perfect start to his return to the FIA World Touring Car Championship, setting the pace in Free Practice 1 for WTCC JVCKENWOOD Race of Japan.

In his first competitive WTCC session with Polestar Cyan Racing, Girolami went to the top of the timing screens early in the session, when all of the best lap times were set. His benchmark of 1m56.437s remained good enough to top the session, an impressive 1.4 seconds ahead of his closest rival, LADA driver Nicky Catsburg.

“It was a very, very good start for us,” said Girolami, whose lap time was under last season’s race lap record of 1m57.136s. “We have new tyres but anyway the car was very, very good, it feels very nice with good grip. We will see in another session in Free Practice 2 the real times for the other drivers but it’s good starting P1.”

Girolami’s team-mate Thed Björk made it a particularly strong early showing for the Volvos in third ahead of the two factory Citroëns of Yvan Muller and José María López. Gabriele Tarquini and Hugo Valente ensured all three LADAs were in the top seven.

The four works Hondas were located between positions eight and 12. Fastest of them was Rob Huff ahead of Tiago Monteiro, while John Filippi took P10 in his Chevrolet RML Cruze with his final lap of the session, demoting Norbert Michelisz and local hero Ryo Michigami.

Source: FIA WTCC

Results of FP1: