MM Motorsport’s Marco Butti was quickest of all and the only driver to break under 1:43 in the first free practice session at the Misano World Circuit, leading Felipe Fernández’s RC2 Racing Team Honda, and the ALM Motorsport Honda of Ruben Volt.

Butti’s new team-mate Jacopo Cimenes was fourth fastest, just under half a second down, and the top four Hondas were some way ahead of the next driver, which was guest driver Michele Imberti, with the Kombat Motorsport Hyundai driver fifth quickest.

The session was red-flagged early on after problems for both of the PMA Motorsport Audis, with Sandro Pelatti stopping with a mechanical issue, and Nicolas Taylor with damaged front-left suspension, both at Turn 15.

With just under 15 minutes to go, it was a sprint to the end, with Cimenes leading the way most of the way until a few late improvements first from Fernández, and then Butti followed.

The fastest of the CUPRAs was Eric Gené in sixth, just over a second down on Butti’s time, while the quickest of the Audis was Teddy Clairet, eighth fastest and 1.4 seconds off of the overall pace.

Butti was also the fastest of the young drivers’ trophy  drivers, while the best-placed of the Diamond Trophy drivers was Victor Fernández in 18th.

The final practice session gets underway at 19:00 CEST later today.