With a lap time of 1m29.506s, BMW driver Augusto Farfus was fastest in Friday’s first free practice at Circuit Zandvoort.

Behind the Brazilian, Mercedes driver Lucas Auer (1m29.749s) was classified second at the track on the Dutch North Sea coast.

Farfus’s fellow BMW driver Marco Wittmann (1m29.875s) and Audi’s Mattias Ekström (1m29.934s), who had a left front puncture just before the end of the session, followed in third and fourth place.

“This was a good Friday for me. Let’s see what these lap times will be worth tomorrow and on Sunday."

"The handling of the car was good. The track has changed significantly, it provides much more grip. However, I don’t really think that the asphalt will be making a huge difference in the races."

"We will get to see some different race strategies again,” Farfus commented after his fastest time.