2013 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters champion Mike Rockenfeller broke the streak of dominance by Mercedes this weekend at the Norising, as the Audi Spirt driver was fastest in final free practice.
The 30-minute session saw the German top the timesheets with a 47.839 around the 2.3-km circuit, ahead of yesterday’s race winner Edoardo Mortara and Paul Di Resta, with the pair setting exactly the same lap time, 0.320 seconds off the pace.
Daniel Juncadella and Gary Paffett made it four Mercedes cars in the top five, ahead of the Ingolstadt pair of Nico Müller and Loïc Duval, who were six and seventh respectively.
Marco Wittmann, who secured his first podium at his home track yesterday, was eighth ahead of Lucas Auer, with the two-time champion 0.417 seconds off the pace by Rockenfeller.
René Rast had a better showing, as the defending champion was tenth, as the other five of the BMW drivers were found to be in the lower half of the order.
Bruno Spengler was 11th, ahead of Timo Glock, Philipp Eng and Augusto Farfus, whilst Joel Eriksson was 16th fastest, behind Robin Frjins.
Jamie Green would be 17th fastest, ahead of 2015 champion Pascal Wehrlein, with the entire field separated by 0.752 seconds.
Qualifying for race two gets underway at 1120 local time (BST + 1 hour), lasting for 20 minutes.
Session results
| POS | NO | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 99 | Mike ROCKENFELLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 34 | 47.839 | 0.000 |
| 2 | 48 | Edoardo MORTARA |  |
SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 28 | 48.159 | 0.320 |
| 3 | 3 | Paul DI RESTA |  |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport REMUS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 28 | 48.159 | 0.320 |
| 4 | 23 | Daniel JUNCADELLA |  |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport REMUS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 26 | 48.172 | 0.333 |
| 5 | 2 | Gary PAFFETT | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport PETRONAS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 31 | 48.208 | 0.369 |
| 6 | 51 | Nico MÜLLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 32 | 48.238 | 0.399 |
| 7 | 28 | Loïc DUVAL |  |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 33 | 48.247 | 0.408 |
| 8 | 11 | Marco WITTMANN | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 25 | 48.256 | 0.417 |
| 9 | 22 | Lucas AUER |  |
SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 26 | 48.300 | 0.461 |
| 10 | 33 | René RAST | |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 30 | 48.314 | 0.475 |
| 11 | 7 | Bruno SPENGLER |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 27 | 48.329 | 0.490 |
| 12 | 16 | Timo GLOCK | |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 26 | 48.343 | 0.504 |
| 13 | 25 | Philipp ENG | |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 28 | 48.349 | 0.510 |
| 14 | 15 | Augusto FARFUS |  |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 27 | 48.472 | 0.633 |
| 15 | 4 | Robin FRIJNS |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 30 | 48.505 | 0.666 |
| 16 | 47 | Joel ERIKSSON |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 28 | 48.554 | 0.715 |
| 17 | 53 | Jamie GREEN | |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 32 | 48.559 | 0.720 |
| 18 | 94 | Pascal WEHRLEIN | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport PETRONAS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 28 | 48.591 | 0.752 |