Jamie Green topped the timesheets in first practice for the DTM at the Hungaroring from Robin Frijns as Audi secured the top four positions, with the session being affected by rain.
Audi were hit hardest by aerodynamic reductions ahead of the 2018 season, but the slower-speed Hungaroring is more likely to suit the RS5s this weekend, and Green wasted no time in getting to the top.
The Brit ended the day with the fastest time, a mere 0.013 seconds ahead of Frijns. Defending champion René Rast – using the same car that he spectacularly crashed at the Lausitzring – was third fastest. Nico Müller completed the Audi top four.
Rookie Swede Joel Eriksson was the best of the BMW contingent in fifth, ahead of the leading Mercedes of Spaniard Daniel Juncadella in sixth.
Two-time champion Marco Wittmann was seventh, ahead of fellow BMw driver Philipp Eng in eighth, whilst Mercedes’ Paul di Resta and BMW’s championship leader Timo Glock completed the top ten.
The session was affected by light rain during the session, but there were no significant incidents.
Second practice takes place at 08:35 CEST (07:35 BST) on Saturday.
Session results
| POS | NO | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 53 | Jamie GREEN |  |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 18 | 1:38.351 | 0.000 |
| 2 | 4 | Robin FRIJNS |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 17 | 1:38.364 | 0.013 |
| 3 | 33 | René RAST |  |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 18 | 1:38.470 | 0.119 |
| 4 | 51 | Nico MÜLLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 20 | 1:38.810 | 0.459 |
| 5 | 47 | Joel ERIKSSON |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 16 | 1:38.850 | 0.499 |
| 6 | 23 | Daniel JUNCADELLA |  |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport REMUS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 17 | 1:38.913 | 0.562 |
| 7 | 11 | Marco WITTMANN | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 19 | 1:38.970 | 0.619 |
| 8 | 25 | Philipp ENG |  |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 14 | 1:39.025 | 0.674 |
| 9 | 3 | Paul DI RESTA | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport REMUS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 20 | 1:39.033 | 0.682 |
| 10 | 16 | Timo GLOCK | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 20 | 1:39.076 | 0.725 |
| 11 | 15 | Augusto FARFUS |  |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 19 | 1:39.132 | 0.781 |
| 12 | 2 | Gary PAFFETT | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport PETRONAS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 16 | 1:39.132 | 0.781 |
| 13 | 94 | Pascal WEHRLEIN | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport PETRONAS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 16 | 1:39.170 | 0.819 |
| 14 | 22 | Lucas AUER | |
SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 19 | 1:39.209 | 0.858 |
| 15 | 99 | Mike ROCKENFELLER | |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 19 | 1:39.290 | 0.939 |
| 16 | 7 | Bruno SPENGLER |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 15 | 1:39.441 | 1.090 |
| 17 | 28 | Loïc DUVAL |  |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 18 | 1:39.524 | 1.173 |
| 18 | 48 | Edoardo MORTARA |  |
SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 20 | 1:39.651 | 1.300 |