Audi Sport Team Phoenix driver Loïc Duval topped the first practice session on the DTM’s return to Misano, Italy, with a lap time of 1minute 27.635seconds, as four drivers suffer from left side punctures.
The French drivers fastest time was unchallenged for the majority of the session as teams chose to run longer practice stints to learn how the Hankook rubber would degrade at the demanding Adriatic circuit.
In 2018, the races were held at night, and so the track conditions were very different to what is expected this weekend.
Duval was one of a number of drivers to suffer a puncture in the latter half of the session, as they began to explore track limits.
Audi Sport Team Rosberg’s René Rast was second fastest, 0.057seconds slower than Duval. The 2017 DTM champion set the early pace, however his running was limited by a mechanical issue that meant he spent much of the session in the pits, before a puncture in the final ten minutes saw him crawl to the pitlane.
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline’s Nico Müller was third fastest, with a time of 1minute 28.100seconds, less than two tenths faster than Audi Sport Team WRT driver Jonathan Aberdein who was forced to stop in the final three minutes with a left rear puncture.
Mike Rockenfeller was fifth fastest, and just over a second back from his Audi Sport Team Phoenix teammate Duval.
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline driver Robin Frijns was sixth fastest, rounding out an Audi top six lockout, and only 0.014seconds slower behind Rockenfeller.
The fastest non-Audi was Marco Wittmann in seventh, setting a time of 1minute 28.889seconds, and less than a tenth faster than BMW Team RMG teammate Bruno Spengler in eighth.
BMW Team RBM’s Joel Eriksson was ninth fastest at the circuit where he took his maiden DTM win last year.
Current championship leader and BMW Team RMR driver Philipp Eng was tenth fastest, 1.489seconds off Duval’s lap time.
Daniel Juncadella was the fastest of the R-Motorsport run Aston Martin Vantage’s in 13th with a time of 1minute 29.347seconds, the Spaniard also received a €600 for speeding in the pitlane.
MotoGP star Andrea Dovisioso who is a guest entry with Audi Sport Team WRT was 16th fastest, despite being another driver to suffer from a left side puncture. The Italian’s best lap being 1minute 29.809seconds, just over two seconds off the fastest.
Session results
| POS | NO | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 28 | Loïc DUVAL |  |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 19 | 1:27.635 | 0.000 |
| 2 | 33 | René RAST |  |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 9 | 1:27.692 | 0.057 |
| 3 | 51 | Nico MÜLLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 26 | 1:28.100 | 0.465 |
| 4 | 27 | Jonathan ABERDEIN |  |
Audi Sport Team WRT | Audi RS5 DTM | 19 | 1:28.248 | 0.613 |
| 5 | 99 | Mike ROCKENFELLER | |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 8 | 1:28.717 | 1.082 |
| 6 | 4 | Robin FRIJNS |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 23 | 1:28.731 | 1.096 |
| 7 | 11 | Marco WITTMANN | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 25 | 1:28.889 | 1.254 |
| 8 | 7 | Bruno SPENGLER |  |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 25 | 1:28.955 | 1.320 |
| 9 | 47 | Joel ERIKSSON |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 27 | 1:29.074 | 1.439 |
| 10 | 25 | Philipp ENG |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 25 | 1:29.124 | 1.489 |
| 11 | 21 | Pietro FITTIPALDI |  |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 17 | 1:29.188 | 1.553 |
| 12 | 31 | Sheldon VAN DER LINDE | |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 24 | 1:29.344 | 1.709 |
| 13 | 23 | Daniel JUNCADELLA |  |
R-Motorsport | Aston Martin Vantage DTM | 12 | 1:29.347 | 1.712 |
| 14 | 16 | Timo GLOCK | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 22 | 1:29.537 | 1.902 |
| 15 | 3 | Paul DI RESTA |  |
R-Motorsport | Aston Martin Vantage DTM | 27 | 1:29.804 | 2.169 |
| 16 | 34 | Andrea DOVIZIOSO |  |
Audi Sport Team WRT | Audi RS5 DTM | 19 | 1:29.809 | 2.174 |
| 17 | 76 | Jake DENNIS | |
R-Motorsport | Aston Martin Vantage DTM | 28 | 1:29.895 | 2.260 |
| 18 | 62 | Ferdinand VON HABSBURG | |
R-Motorsport | Aston Martin Vantage DTM | 1 | No time | N/A |