Julien Briché headed the times of the first TCR Europe practice session at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps, the JSB Cométition driver setting a time of 2minutes 31.007 seconds.

The pace the Peugeot’s was evident early on in the session as DG Sport Compétition driver Aurélien Comte headed Team Clairet Sport’s Teddy Clairet before the times came tumbling in the final ten minutes.

As the checkered flag brought the session to an end, Briché held out to beat local outfit Team WRT’s Santiago Urrutia by 0.436 seconds.

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Comte was third fastest, over half a second slower than Briché, ahead of Gianni Morbidelli who set a time of 2minutes 31.708seconds in his WestCoast Racing Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR.

Comtoyou Racing driver Gilles Magnus was fifth fastest only 0.072seconds slower than Morbidelli, and an almost identical margin ahead of PCR Sport With Georgia’s Davit Kajaia in sixth place.

Teddy Clairet finished the session was unable to improve his time, finishing the session as seventh fastest with a time of 2minutes 31.881 seconds.

Championship leader Josh Files was the fastest of the Hyundai i30 N TCR’s, setting a time of 2minutes31.957 in his Autodis Racing by Target Competition-run machine.

Olli Parhankangas was ninth fastest, around three tenths slower than his WestCoast Racing teammate Morbidelli, and over nine tenths off Briché.

Stian Paulsen rounded out the top ten in his self-run Cupra Léon TCR, and was the quickest driver to not break into the 31second laptimes, setting a time of 2minute 32.271seconds.

2017 British Touring Car champion Ash Sutton, driving for local outfit Team WRT, was 22nd fastest on his return to TCR Europe, with a time of 2minutes 33.642seconds, 2.635seconds slower than the session topping time.

Race One at Spa gets underway on Saturday at 13:50 CEST (12:50 BST)

Session results