Macau: Event practice two report

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Tarquini fastest in FIA World Touring Car Championship second practice

Gabriele Tarquini maintained SEAT's advantage in practice for the FIA World Touring Car Championship finale in Macau by topping the times in the final session before qualifying.

The Italian was consistently quick throughout the session and, despite a number of quick laps from fellow SEAT driver Tom Coronel that threatened his top position, Tarquini finally put in his best effort with six minutes of practice remaining to seal the lead spot.

Coronel's fastest time was just 0.018 seconds behind, however, indicating that the Dutchman could be a major threat for a strong result in his GR Asia-run car in tomorrow's two races.

Augusto Farfus was third quickest for BMW, just ahead of SEAT's Rickard Rydell and N.Technology Alfa Romeo's Andre Couto.

Reigning FIA WTCC champion Andy Priaulx ended up sixth fastest, having experimented during the session with the slipstreaming tactics that the teams are likely to use to boost their qualifying times this afternoon.

Although Priaulx's main title rival Yvan Muller was down in 11th spot on the timesheets, BMW are still wary of the threat that SEAT will pose when they show their full potential in qualifying.

"It's difficult," said BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen. "We see Andy is doing a perfect job in the second sector but he is obviously lacking torque and top speed on the main straight and it will be quite difficult to keep the upper hand here."

Chevrolet teammates Rob Huff and Alain Menu were seventh and eighth fastest, ahead of SEAT's Tiago Monteiro and Duncan Huismann in the Team Aviva-run BMW.

-credit: macau.grandprix.gov.mo