Luca Stolz (#9 Boutsen VDS Mercedes-AMG) led Thursday's pre-event test at Misano, pipping the #46 Team WRT BMW to top spot by just 0.028s.
Though not an official part off the race weekend, the two-hour session was open to the full 43-car field. All but one made use of the extra track time, clocking up serious mileage at the 4.2km circuit.
Stolz left it late to snatch the best time, posting a 1m32.556s during the closing minutes to edge out Raffaele Marciello in the #46 BMW. Marciello and Valentino Rossi are making a one-off appearance at the event, helping to bolster the grid to a record 43 cars. Vincent Abril was third in the #51 AF Corse Francorchamps Motors Ferrari, 0.099s shy of the benchmark.
The three class leaders occupied the next three positions. The #99 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi was fourth quickest in the hands of Alex Aka, pacing the Silver Cup in the process. Dennis Marschall was P5 in the #74 Kessel Racing Ferrari, topping the Bronze Cup, while Chris Lulham was sixth in his Emil Frey Racing Ferrari to lead the Gold Cup.
The only car not to enter the paid test was the #64 HRT Ford Performance. The session ran without incident and in the hot and sunny conditions so familiar at Misano. There was a brief shower on Thursday morning, but no more rain is expected for the remainder of the event.
Cars will be back on-track tomorrow (Friday) at 13:40 CEST for Free Practice. Pre-Qualifying runs at 19:20, followed by Qualifying 1 (12:00 noon) and Race 1 (20:15) on Saturday.
> RESULTS: Paid Test Session