The pair topped the time sheets in both Free Practice sessions under leaden skies at the Moscow Raceway. Their best time of 1:33.578 around the challenging 3.931 km circuit took them to the top of the pile.

Second fastest was the Vita4One BMW No.18 of Michael Bartels (DEU) and Yelmer Buurman (NLD) with a time of 1:33.742. The drivers’ championship leaders were just ahead of the No.33 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Audi R8 of Frank Stippler (DEU) and Oliver Jarvis (GBR) who recorded a best time of 1:33.914.

Fred Makowiecki (FRA) and Stef Dusseldorp (NLD), put the troubles of the previous round in Slovakia behind them to post the fourth fastest time of 1:34.033 in their Hexis Racing No.1 McLaren.

The Mercedes No.38 of All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport’s German pair of Marc Basseng and Markus Winkelhock, currently second on the drivers’ standings, were fifth in 1:34.140.

Today’s Qualifying session starts at 15:15 local time.