Audi Team Phoenix driver Mike Rockenfeller set the pace in the first practice session for this weekend’s DTM double-header at the Hungaroring.
While lap times tumbled with every lap during the early stages of the 30-minute session, 2013 DTM champion Rockenfeller constantly put his name back on top of the chart, until the German, among the majority of the 18-car strong field, opted to practice their long runs in preparation for Saturday’s race one.
Nico Müller of the Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline went second fastest with a 1:36.564, while Marco Wittmann (Team RMG, BMW) finished in a distant third. The defending champion was half a second slower than Rockenfeller.
Second Abt Sportsline driver Mattias Ekström turned the fourth quickest lap, with Augusto Farfus (Team RMG, BMW) following in fifth.
Mercedes-Benz took a more cautious approach to this Friday, with just one of the German marques’ cars breaking into the top ten. Current championship leader Lucas Auer (Team HWA, Mercedes) represented the sole Mercedes in the top ten with a ninth place.
Edoardo Mortara (HWA Team, Mercedes) who won the first of two races at the Hungaroring in 2016, finished the day last in 18th. The Italian lapped 2.442 seconds slower than the leading Audi of Rockenfeller.
With dark clouds starting to cast rain over the circuit just as the 30-minute practice came to its conclusion, the majority of drivers had a trouble-free session.
Saturday will be a busy day for the 18 current DTM drivers, with second free practice starting at 09:40 CEST (08:40 BST), followed by qualifying for race one at 11:40 CEST (10:40 BST) and finally race one itself, which sets off at 14:48 CEST (13:48 BST).
Session results
| POS | NO | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 99 | Mike ROCKENFELLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 20 | 1:36.404 | 0.000 |
| 2 | 51 | Nico MÜLLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 17 | 1:36.564 | 0.160 |
| 3 | 11 | Marco WITTMANN | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 17 | 1:36.984 | 0.580 |
| 4 | 5 | Mattias EKSTRÖM |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 18 | 1:36.986 | 0.582 |
| 5 | 15 | Augusto FARFUS |  |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 19 | 1:37.034 | 0.630 |
| 6 | 33 | René RAST | |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 19 | 1:37.079 | 0.675 |
| 7 | 53 | Jamie GREEN |  |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 19 | 1:37.125 | 0.721 |
| 8 | 16 | Timo GLOCK | |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 19 | 1:37.138 | 0.734 |
| 9 | 22 | Lucas AUER |  |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport BWT | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 19 | 1:37.183 | 0.779 |
| 10 | 77 | Loïc DUVAL |  |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 16 | 1:37.487 | 1.083 |
| 11 | 63 | Maro ENGEL | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport SILBERPFEIL Energy | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 19 | 1:37.532 | 1.128 |
| 12 | 7 | Bruno SPENGLER |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 17 | 1:37.578 | 1.174 |
| 13 | 31 | Tom BLOMQVIST | |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 18 | 1:37.587 | 1.183 |
| 14 | 3 | Paul DI RESTA | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport SILBERPFEIL Energy | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 18 | 1:37.687 | 1.283 |
| 15 | 6 | Robert WICKENS | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Mercedes me | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 19 | 1:37.716 | 1.312 |
| 16 | 36 | Maxime MARTIN |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 17 | 1:37.823 | 1.419 |
| 17 | 2 | Gary PAFFETT | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Mercedes me | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 19 | 1:38.044 | 1.640 |
| 18 | 48 | Edoardo MORTARA |  |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport BWT | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 16 | 1:38.846 | 2.442 |