TCR International Series newcomer Nicki Thiim remained on top of the times in second practice in Portimão, with the Dane again in front by more than half a second ahead of Craft-Bamboo Racing’s Pepe Oriola.
Thiim went to the top of the times after just four minutes, posting a time of 1:54.895 in his Audi TT. A couple of laps later he posted a 1:54.032, which would not be beaten for the rest of the half-hour session. The ballast-laden Oriola, who carries 30 kg as a result of his success in Spain, was the top SEAT driver in second, albeit 0.603 seconds off the pace.
Third fastest was Craft-Bamboo’s Sergey Afanasyev, whilst Lorenzo Veglia in fourth split the Craft-Bamboo cars. Jordi Gené was fifth, ahead of Target Competition’s Stefano Comini and Veloso Motorsport’s José Monroy.
WestCoast Racing’s Gianni Morbidelli, who had been second fastest in first practice, was the top Honda in eighth and the Italian was the last driver within two seconds of Thiim.
Completing the top ten were Target Competition’s Michel Nykjær and Veloso Motorsport’s Francisco Mora.
South African Kelvin Van der Linde failed to post a time for the second consecutive session whilst his Engstler Motorsport team investigate a technical issue that saw his Audi TT stop in first practice.
Qualifying takes place at 14:00 BST and local time (15:00 CEST).
Session results
| POS | NO | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 3 | Nicki THIIM |  |
Liqui Moly Team Engstler | Audi Sport TT Cup | 12 | 1:54.032 | 0.000 |
| 2 | 74 | Pepe ORIOLA |  |
Team Craft-Bamboo LUKOIL | SEAT León Racer | 12 | 1:54.635 | 0.603 |
| 3 | 77 | Sergey AFANASYEV |  |
Team Craft-Bamboo LUKOIL | SEAT León Racer | 12 | 1:54.758 | 0.726 |
| 4 | 7 | Lorenzo VEGLIA |  |
Liqui Moly Team Engstler | SEAT León Racer | 12 | 1:55.045 | 1.013 |
| 5 | 88 | Jordi GENÉ | |
Team Craft-Bamboo LUKOIL | SEAT León Racer | 10 | 1:55.227 | 1.195 |
| 6 | 25 | Stefano COMINI |  |
Target Competition | SEAT León Racer | 10 | 1:55.665 | 1.633 |
| 7 | 18 | José MONROY |  |
Veloso Motorsport | SEAT León Racer | 14 | 1:55.815 | 1.783 |
| 8 | 10 | Gianni MORBIDELLI | |
West Coast Racing | Honda Civic TCR | 9 | 1:55.899 | 1.867 |
| 9 | 17 | Michel NYKJÆR | |
Target Competition | SEAT León Racer | 5 | 1:56.038 | 2.006 |
| 10 | 50 | Francisco MORA | |
Veloso Motorsport | SEAT León Racer | 13 | 1:56.159 | 2.127 |
| 11 | 24 | Kevin GLEASON |  |
West Coast Racing | Honda Civic TCR | 11 | 1:56.519 | 2.487 |
| 12 | 33 | Andrea BELICCHI | |
Target Competition | SEAT León Racer | 7 | 1:56.582 | 2.550 |
| 13 | 20 | Igor SKUZ |  |
West Coast Racing | Honda Civic TCR | 13 | 1:57.395 | 3.363 |
| 14 | 19 | Oscar NOGUÉS | |
Campos Racing | Opel Astra OPC | 2 | 1:59.299 | 5.267 |
| 15 | 8 | Mikhail GRACHEV | |
Liqui Moly Team Engstler | SEAT León Racer | – | No time | N/A |
| 16 | 9 | Kelvin VAN DER LINDE |  |
Liqui Moly Team Engstler | Audi Sport TT Cup | – | No time | N/A |
| 17 | 22 | Armando PARENTE | |
Campos Racing | Opel Astra OPC | – | No time | N/A |