Marco Wittmann fastest in second Misano DTM practice

Marco Wittmann topped the times in the second DTM practice session at Misano, the BMW RMG driver clocking a 1minute 26.687second lap, a second faster than the best time in first practice.

The fastest times in the session were set early on as the majority of drivers headed out for a qualifying style run.

In the latter half teams focused on stints in excess of ten laps to gather tyre degradation data.

Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline’s Robin Frijns was second fastest, 0.270seconds slower than Wittmann.

Championship leader Philipp Eng was third fastest, the BMW Team RMR driver was the last driver into the 26’s, setting a time of 1minute 26.979seconds.

Audi Sport Team Rosberg’s René Rast was fourth fastest, and keen to make up for the time lost in first practice, his fastest time only 0.320seconds slower than Wittmann.

The second Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline driver Nico Müller was fifth fastest, under half a second off the pace and just over two tenths slower than teammate Frijns.

In sixth place was Mike Rockenfeller who set a time of 1minute 27.239seconds. The Audi Sport Team Phoenix driver spent the majority of the session on track, clocking up 19 laps which was more than any other driver.

BMW Team RBM driver Sheldon van der Linde was seventh, the rookie was 0.667seconds off Wittmann’s time in his first taste of Misano in a DTM car.

Audi Sport Team WRT driver Jonathan Aberdein was eight fastest, the South African displaying impressive pace in his rookie season with a time of 1minute 27.361seconds.

Loïc Duval, who topped the first practice session, was ninth fastest. The Audi Sport Team Phoenix driver set a time of 1minute 27.378seconds which was nearly seven tenths off the fastest time.

Wittmann’s BMW Team RMG teammate Bruno Spengler rounded out the top ten with a time of 1minute 27.405seconds.

Jake Dennis was fastest of the R-Motorsport Aston Martin’s in 14th place with a time of 1minute 28.241seconds.

Guest driver MotoGP star Andrea Dovisioso was 16th fastest, setting his 1minute 28.488seconds lap in the final few minutes. The Italian spent much of the session trying to follow faster drivers to find out where he can gain time round the 4.226km circuit.

The Ducati rider, who is racing for Audi Sport Team WRT this weekend, had a strange end to the session as he spun when doing burnouts on the way to complete a practice start.

The Italian did not damage the car despite running across the grass and grazing the barrier on the start finish straight.

Qualifying for race one takes place at 10:30 CEST (9:30 BST)

Session results

POS	NO	DRIVER	NAT	ENTRANT	CAR	LAPS	TIME	GAP
1	11	Marco WITTMANN		BMW Team RMG	BMW M4 DTM	16	1:26.687	0.000
2	4	Robin FRIJNS		Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	Audi RS5 DTM	16	1:26.957	0.270
3	25	Philipp ENG		BMW Team RBM	BMW M4 DTM	13	1:26.979	0.292
4	33	René RAST		Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi RS5 DTM	17	1:27.007	0.320
5	51	Nico MÜLLER		Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	Audi RS5 DTM	8	1:27.174	0.487
6	99	Mike ROCKENFELLER		Audi Sport Team Phoenix	Audi RS5 DTM	22	1:27.239	0.552
7	31	Sheldon VAN DER LINDE		BMW Team RBM	BMW M4 DTM	17	1:27.354	0.667
8	27	Jonathan ABERDEIN		Audi Sport Team WRT	Audi RS5 DTM	11	1:27.361	0.674
9	28	Loïc DUVAL		Audi Sport Team Phoenix	Audi RS5 DTM	18	1:27.378	0.691
10	7	Bruno SPENGLER		BMW Team RMG	BMW M4 DTM	10	1:27.405	0.718
11	47	Joel ERIKSSON		BMW Team RBM	BMW M4 DTM	16	1:27.618	0.931
12	16	Timo GLOCK		BMW Team RMG	BMW M4 DTM	16	1:27.716	1.029
13	21	Pietro FITTIPALDI		Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi RS5 DTM	20	1:28.112	1.425
14	76	Jake DENNIS		R-Motorsport	Aston Martin Vantage DTM	9	1:28.241	1.554
15	3	Paul DI RESTA		R-Motorsport	Aston Martin Vantage DTM	17	1:28.455	1.768
16	34	Andrea DOVIZIOSO		Audi Sport Team WRT	Audi RS5 DTM	21	1:28.488	1.801
17	62	Ferdinand VON HABSBURG		R-Motorsport	Aston Martin Vantage DTM	20	1:28.861	2.174
18	23	Daniel JUNCADELLA		R-Motorsport	Aston Martin Vantage DTM	9	1:30.288	3.601