World Rally Championship star Thierry Neuville fired a serious warning shot at his rivals as he commenced his TCR Germany championship guest outing at the Nürburgring, immediately setting the pace in opening practice.

On a weekend which marks Neuville’s first-ever experience of circuit racing, the Belgian wasted no time in signalling his intentions, recording a 1:34.716 lap aboard his Team Engstler-run Hyundai i30 N TCR.

Neuville’s benchmark time proved 0.072 seconds quicker than Pascal Eberle’s Cupra Leon TCR, the Swiss himself making his first start in TCR Germany this year.

It should be noted that both Neuville and Eberle ran on new tyres, unlike most of their rivals, as this is their first race in the 2019 championship.

Eberle in turn edged out championship contender Max Hesse (Hyundai Team Engstler) by one thousandth of a second.

Honda duo Bradley Burns and Mike Halder completed the top five, both lapping within a few tenths of Neuville’s outright pace.

Championship leader Antti Buri was ninth quickest, and the leading Audi, some 0.812s off.

Next up on the schedule is Free Practice 2 at 12.25 CEST.