Zengő Motorsport’s Norbert Michelisz was fastest in testing for the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) in Thailand, ahead of the LADA of Nicolas Lapierre.
Michelisz ended the session 0.148 seconds faster than Frenchman Lapierre, with the leading Citroën of Sébastien Loeb in third, over half a second slower than the Honda.
Despite being quickest, Michelisz insisted that being fastest so early in the weekend is not necessarily reflective of the likelihood to perform well in qualifying.
“We had a similar scenario in Shanghai where I finished second in FP0 and I was quite happy with the car but still I was P14 or P15 in qualifying,” explained the Hungarian after testing. “Considering that and considering we have 40 kilograms of extra ballast and the circuit, just from looking, is not really the best one for us, I am expecting difficult times for the rest of the weekend.”
Campos Racing’s Hugo Valente was fourth, once again the leading Chevrolet driver, with a time 0.696 seconds off the pace.
Nick Catsburg made it a strong start to the weekend for LADA in fifth, ahead of Citroën’s José María López in sixth.
Gabriele Tarquini was the leading works’ Honda in seventh, ahead of the independent Citroën of Mehdi Bennani in eighth, with the Moroccan being the last river to be within a second of the pace.
Completing the top ten were Citroën duo Yvan Muller, who is the only driver who can prevent López clinching the title this weekend, and Ma Qing Hua.
Session results
| POS | NO | CL | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 5 | Y | Norbert MICHELISZ |  |
Zengő Motorsport | Honda Civic WTCC | 12 | 1:38.260 | 0.000 |
| 2 | 47 | Nicolas LAPIERRE |  |
LADA Sport Rosneft | LADA Vesta WTCC | 13 | 1:38.408 | 0.148 | |
| 3 | 9 | Sébastien LOEB | |
Citroën Total WTCC | Citroën C-Elysée WTCC | 12 | 1:38.855 | 0.595 | |
| 4 | 7 | Y | Hugo VALENTE | |
Campos Racing | Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 | 12 | 1:38.956 | 0.696 |
| 5 | 10 | Nick CATSBURG |  |
LADA Sport Rosneft | LADA Vesta WTCC | 14 | 1:38.970 | 0.710 | |
| 6 | 37 | José María LÓPEZ |  |
Citroën Total WTCC | Citroën C-Elysée WTCC | 12 | 1:38.980 | 0.720 | |
| 7 | 2 | Gabriele TARQUINI |  |
Castrol Honda WTC Team | Honda Civic WTCC | 12 | 1:39.060 | 0.800 | |
| 8 | 25 | Y | Mehdi BENNANI |  |
Sébastien Loeb Racing | Citroën C-Elysée WTCC | 14 | 1:39.119 | 0.859 |
| 9 | 68 | Yvan MULLER | |
Citroën Total WTCC | Citroën C-Elysée WTCC | 13 | 1:39.515 | 1.255 | |
| 10 | 33 | MA Qing Hua |  |
Citroën Total WTCC | Citroën C-Elysée WTCC | 12 | 1:39.547 | 1.287 | |
| 11 | 18 | Tiago MONTEIRO |  |
Castrol Honda WTC Team | Honda Civic WTCC | 11 | 1:39.815 | 1.555 | |
| 12 | 4 | Y | Tom CORONEL | |
ROAL Motorsport | Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 | 13 | 1:39.959 | 1.699 |
| 13 | 27 | Y | John FILIPPI | |
Campos Racing | Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 | 12 | 1:40.142 | 1.882 |
| 14 | 12 | Rob HUFF |  |
LADA Sport Rosneft | LADA Vesta WTCC | 14 | 1:40.593 | 2.333 | |
| 15 | 3 | Y | Tom CHILTON | |
ROAL Motorsport | Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 | 11 | 1:40.616 | 2.356 |
| 16 | 99 | Y | Tin SRITRAI |  |
Campos Racing | Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 | 14 | 1:40.762 | 2.502 |
| 17 | 11 | Y | Grégoire DEMOUSTIER | |
Craft-Bamboo Racing | Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 | 13 | 1:40.806 | 2.546 |
| 18 | 26 | Y | Stefano D’ASTE | |
ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport | Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 | 13 | 1:40.878 | 2.618 |