René Rast topped the timesheets in DTM first practice at Zolder, the first on-track action since the series last visited the circuit in 2002. The Audi Sport Team Rosberg driver’s time of 1 minute 22.941 seconds could not be matched.

First practice got underway as heavy cloud loomed overhead. Morning rain had left the track greasy, giving the drivers an extra challenge as they adapted to driving a DTM car at the 4 km circuit.

The track was rarely quiet, as teams sought to gather as much data as possible at what is a ‘new’ circuit to many.

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Early on BMW Team RMG driver, and championship leader, Marco Wittmann exchanged fastest times with local hero, Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline’s Robin Frijns.

Then, as the track began to dry out, the pace increased, with Frijns’ teammate Nice Müller and BMW Team RMR’s Philipp Eng exchanging quick times before Rast went fastest.

Wittmann finished the session second, 0.790 seconds behind Rast. Frijns was third fastest, 0.813 seconds back, with Eng in fourth.

Rookie Jonathon Aberdein was fifth fastest, 0.917 seconds off the top time, and ahead of Audi Sport Team WRT teammate Pietro Fittipaldi.

Müller who had topped the times briefly finished the session in seventh, the final driver within a second of Rast’s pace.

Jake Dennis was the highest placed R-Motorsport I driver in eighth with a time of 1 minute 23.974 seconds, only four-hundredths faster than R-Motorsport’s Daniel Juncadella.

Audi Sport Team Phoenix driver Loïc Duval rounded out the top ten, 1.219 seconds off the pace.

Second practice takes place at 17:10 CEST (16:10 BST).

Session results