M1RA’s Dániel Nagy, one of the local heroes, was the fastest in TCR Europe’s first Free Practice at the Hungaroring, a session that was shortened by one third because of a red flag.
Josh Files had topped the time sheet before the suspension, posting two consecutive provisional fastest laps of 1:55.289 and 1:55.199 at the wheel of his Honda Civic.
The Briton was followed by three Hyundai i30 N cars, Dušan Borković’s (1:54.301), Reece Barr’s (1:54.493) and Nagy’s (1:54.533). Barr was on his way to improve further and set a fastest time in the first sector, but then crashed at turn 5, which prompted the red flag and a ten-minute suspension.
When action resumed less than eight minutes were left, a few drivers were able to improve, but only Nagy succeeded in changing the top positions, setting a new fastest lap of 1:54.028. Files, Borković and Barr maintained the positions between second and fourth, while Jean-Karl Vernay (1:54.493) moved up to fifth ahead of Attila Tassi (1:54.896), Francisco Mora (1:54.926) and Maxime Potty (1:54.992).
The other drivers remained above the 1:54 mark with Kris Richard and Stefano Comini rounding off the top ten.
Current championship leader Mikel Azcona ranked 12^th on his first appearance at the Hungaroring.
The second free practice session is scheduled at 16:00.