Macau: Practice two report

Weather: Sunny and clear
Date: Friday, November 14, 2008

Farfus fastest again in final free practice

Augusto Farfus proved the fastest man once again in the final free practice session for the FIA World Touring Car Championship season finale in Macau - although this time it was not without drama as he escaped a brush with the wall.

The BMW driver has been the fastest man so far, but showed how hard he was pushing to keep that spot when he ran slightly wide at Lisboa halfway through final practice. His car brushed the tyre wall on the left and knocked off his left hand mirror.

He was able to come into the pits for some hasty repairs and, with teammate Jorg Muller the fastest man at that point, Farfus was able to put together his fastest lap in the closing seconds of the session to head the timesheets.

"I am looking forward to qualifying," said Farfus. "As far as that incident is concerned, it was just a question of being on the limit - and here the track is very narrow."

Behind Muller, Chevrolet's Alain Menu was third quickest, ahead of James Thompson in the N. Technology Honda Accord and Nicola Larini in another Chevrolet.

Championship leader Yvan Muller, who could clinch the championship in the first of Sunday's two FIA WTCC races, was sixth quickest for SEAT as he continued his steady preparation for the finale.

But there was bad news for another SEAT driver. Dutchman Tom Coronel ran wide at Lisboa Bend early in the session and heavily clouted the wall before coming to a stop further down the track. Practice had to be red flagged so safety crews could retrieve his car.

Hong Kong driver Matthew Marsh was another driver to hit trouble, as he ran headfirst into the barriers at Lisboa Bend in the final seconds of the session.

-credit: macau gp