BMW’s Bruno Spengler topped the times in first practice for the DTM at the Norisring, posting a lap time which was less than a tenth quicker than Audi’s Mattias Ekström.
The Canadian driver has not topped any sessions so far in 2017, but made his mark on the short city circuit in Nuremberg, hitting the top of the times early on and remaining at the top thereafter, with the circuit still being ‘rubbered in’ for the weekend.
Spengler’s time was just a tenth shy of the fastest pole position time set by Ekström last year.
Behind Ekström were BMW duo Tom Blomqvist and Timo Glock a further tenth back respectively, whilst eighth and ninth fastest Augusto Farfus and Maxime Martin made it a strong session for the Munich marque, who have struggled so far in 2017.
Audi’s Nico Müller was fifth fastest, ahead of the Mercedes pairing of Gary Paffett and Robert Wickens in sixth and seventh.
Audi’s Mike Rockenfeller completed the top ten, whilst championship leader René Rast could only manage 13th fastest in clear sunny skies in Germany.
Second practice takes place at 08:45 CEST (07:45 BST) on Saturday, whilst qualifying for race one follows at 11:20 CEST (10:20 BST).
Session results
| POS | NO | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 7 | Bruno SPENGLER |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 36 | 47.971 | 0.000 |
| 2 | 5 | Mattias EKSTRÖM |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 30 | 48.048 | 0.077 |
| 3 | 31 | Tom BLOMQVIST |  |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 27 | 48.154 | 0.183 |
| 4 | 16 | Timo GLOCK |  |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 27 | 48.183 | 0.212 |
| 5 | 51 | Nico MÜLLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 32 | 48.220 | 0.249 |
| 6 | 2 | Gary PAFFETT | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Mercedes me | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 29 | 48.230 | 0.259 |
| 7 | 6 | Robert WICKENS | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Mercedes me | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 30 | 48.262 | 0.291 |
| 8 | 15 | Augusto FARFUS |  |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 34 | 48.326 | 0.355 |
| 9 | 36 | Maxime MARTIN |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 30 | 48.335 | 0.364 |
| 10 | 99 | Mike ROCKENFELLER | |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 32 | 48.351 | 0.380 |
| 11 | 53 | Jamie GREEN | |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 38 | 48.369 | 0.398 |
| 12 | 11 | Marco WITTMANN | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 28 | 48.376 | 0.405 |
| 13 | 33 | René RAST | |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 38 | 48.387 | 0.416 |
| 14 | 22 | Lucas AUER |  |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport BWT | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 38 | 48.478 | 0.507 |
| 15 | 48 | Edoardo MORTARA |  |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport BWT | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 34 | 48.672 | 0.701 |
| 16 | 3 | Paul DI RESTA | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport SILBERPFEIL Energy | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 36 | 48.723 | 0.752 |
| 17 | 77 | Loïc DUVAL |  |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 30 | 48.778 | 0.807 |
| 18 | 63 | Maro ENGEL | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport SILBERPFEIL Energy | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 37 | 48.813 | 0.842 |