Audi’s Loïc Duval set the pace in the opening free practice session for the DTM at the TT Circuit Assen, with the German series making its first visit to the famous motorcycle circuit.
Duval was two tenths of a second clear of stablemate Nico Müller, as the field was relatively spaced out around the 4.545 km circuit, with only seven drivers covered by a second.
Dutch local Robin Frijns was third quickest in the second of the Abt Sportsline Audi’s directly behind his team-mate, whilst Timo Glock was the quickest of the BMW drivers in fourth.
Two-time DTM champion Marco Wittmann was fifth, ahead of the independent WRT Audi of Pietro Fittipaldi in sixth.
Daniel Juncadella was an impressive seventh quickest in the top R Motorsport Aston Martin, and the last driver within a second of Duval.
Jonathan Aberdein made it two WRT RS5s in the top ten in eighth, with Audi duo René Rast and Mike Rockenfeller completing the top ten.
Second practice gets underway at 15:25 BST (16:25 CEST).
Session results
| POS | NO | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 28 | Loïc DUVAL |  |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 14 | 1:26.700 | 0.000 |
| 2 | 51 | Nico MÜLLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 27 | 1:26.921 | 0.221 |
| 3 | 4 | Robin FRIJNS |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 24 | 1:26.985 | 0.285 |
| 4 | 16 | Timo GLOCK |  |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 28 | 1:27.115 | 0.415 |
| 5 | 11 | Marco WITTMANN | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 26 | 1:27.300 | 0.600 |
| 6 | 21 | Pietro FITTIPALDI |  |
Audi Sport Team WRT | Audi RS5 DTM | 28 | 1:27.468 | 0.768 |
| 7 | 23 | Daniel JUNCADELLA |  |
R-Motorsport | Aston Martin Vantage DTM | 25 | 1:27.667 | 0.967 |
| 8 | 27 | Jonathan ABERDEIN |  |
Audi Sport Team WRT | Audi RS5 DTM | 23 | 1:27.832 | 1.132 |
| 9 | 33 | René RAST | |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 28 | 1:28.015 | 1.315 |
| 10 | 99 | Mike ROCKENFELLER | |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 27 | 1:28.055 | 1.355 |
| 11 | 7 | Bruno SPENGLER |  |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 27 | 1:28.104 | 1.404 |
| 12 | 62 | Ferdinand VON HABSBURG |  |
R-Motorsport | Aston Martin Vantage DTM | 25 | 1:28.475 | 1.775 |
| 13 | 76 | Jake DENNIS |  |
R-Motorsport | Aston Martin Vantage DTM | 22 | 1:28.515 | 1.815 |
| 14 | 47 | Joel ERIKSSON |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 30 | 1:28.624 | 1.924 |
| 15 | 25 | Philipp ENG | |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 8 | 1:28.686 | 1.986 |
| 16 | 53 | Jamie GREEN | |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 31 | 1:28.839 | 2.139 |
| 17 | 31 | Sheldon VAN DER LINDE | |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 30 | 1:28.861 | 2.161 |
| 18 | 3 | Paul DI RESTA | |
R-Motorsport | Aston Martin Vantage DTM | 26 | 1:28.992 | 2.292 |