Audi Sport Team Rosberg’s Jamie Green took top honours in first free practice for the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters at the Red Bull Ring this afternoon, in what was a close 30-minute session.
The Briton was just fractionally faster from leading Mercedes-AMG driver Lucas Auer, as Green set a 1:23.567 around the 4.318-km circuit, just 0.024 seconds ahead of the 23-year-old.
René Rast and Nico Müller made it three RS5 DTMs in the top five behind, with 2005 champion Gary Paffett fifth fastest.
With the top ten drivers separated by 0.709 seconds, defending champion Marco Wittmann was just one of two BMW drivers at the lower end, rounding out the top ten, behind Maxime Martin.
Loïc Duval and current points leader Mattias Ekström occupied sixth and seventh, ahead of Paul Di Resta, whilst Mike Rockenfeller did not take part in the session, plagued by gearbox problems that were unresolved.
Championship contender Timo Glock would also struggle for pace down in 12th, leading a quartet of M4 DTMs, followed closely by Tom Blomqvist, Augusto Farfus and Bruno Spengler.
Second free practice gets underway at 0925 local time (0825 BST) on Saturday, lasting for 30 minutes.
Session results
| POS | NO | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 53 | Jamie GREEN |  |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 22 | 1:23.267 | 0.000 |
| 2 | 22 | Lucas AUER |  |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport BWT | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 19 | 1:23.291 | 0.024 |
| 3 | 33 | René RAST |  |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 21 | 1:23.352 | 0.085 |
| 4 | 51 | Nico MÜLLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 22 | 1:23.387 | 0.120 |
| 5 | 2 | Gary PAFFETT | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Mercedes me | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 17 | 1:23.485 | 0.218 |
| 6 | 77 | Loïc DUVAL |  |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 19 | 1:23.520 | 0.253 |
| 7 | 5 | Mattias EKSTRÖM |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 22 | 1:23.625 | 0.358 |
| 8 | 3 | Paul DI RESTA | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport SILBERPFEIL Energy | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 18 | 1:23.675 | 0.408 |
| 9 | 36 | Maxime MARTIN |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 22 | 1:23.768 | 0.501 |
| 10 | 11 | Marco WITTMANN | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 19 | 1:23.976 | 0.709 |
| 11 | 6 | Robert WICKENS |  |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Mercedes me | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 20 | 1:24.036 | 0.769 |
| 12 | 16 | Timo GLOCK | |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 20 | 1:24.085 | 0.818 |
| 13 | 31 | Tom BLOMQVIST | |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 22 | 1:24.115 | 0.848 |
| 14 | 15 | Augusto FARFUS |  |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 21 | 1:24.147 | 0.880 |
| 15 | 7 | Bruno SPENGLER | |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 23 | 1:24.309 | 1.042 |
| 16 | 48 | Edoardo MORTARA |  |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport BWT | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 22 | 1:24.354 | 1.087 |
| 17 | 63 | Maro ENGEL | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport SILBERPFEIL Energy | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 22 | 1:24.813 | 1.546 |
| 18 | 99 | Mike ROCKENFELLER | |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 1 | No time |