Monlau Motorsport’s Marco Butti led the way in the one-hour test session in a hot Hungary in his CUPRA, just pipping Santiago Concepción, who was delighted to be back behind the wheel of the Honda which he raced last year.

Butti’s time of 1:51.961 was just four-tenths of a second away from the qualifying lap record set by Rob Huff four years ago in the WTCR - FIA World Touring Car Cup, and so it looks likely that record could fall come qualifying on Saturday morning.

With the air temperature just under 29 degrees even at 5:15 in the evening, Butti topped the time sheets ahead of Concepción and the Spanish driver’s new team-mate Tiago Pernía, with Felipe Fernández fourth quickest, showing good pace for the Hondas at the track, all within half a second of Butti’s time.

Championship leader Nicolas Taylor was fifth quickest, and the best-placed of the Audis, leading the way ahead of the two BRC Racing Team Hyundais of Alex Ley and Gabriele Covini.

Junui Park was the quickest of the Solite Indigo Racing Hyundais in eighth, with Adam Shepherd and Viktor Andersson’s Monlau Motorsport CUPRAs both completing the top ten.

Victor Chan was the fastest of the Tenerife Trophy contingent in 11th overall, while championship frontrunners Nicola Baldan and Mike Halder were 12th and 13th behind the Hong Kong racer. Hungary’s János Czik was in the mix on his competitive TCR debut, 18th quickest in his Hyundai i30 N TCR.

The first offiical practice session gets underway at 9:54 CEST tomorrow morning.