N.Technology's James Thompson made a flying start to this weekend's FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) round at Anderstorp by setting fifth fastest time in Friday's wet half-hour test session. Despite never having driven the Swedish circuit before, the 33-year-old racer, driving his Alfa 156, was just half-a-second off the overall top time set by Rickard Rydell ahead of Anderstorp circuit specialist, Fredrik Ekblom, in a BMW.

Rain spoiled yesterday's test session at the Scandinavian Raceway which was topped by local driver Rydell on his first appearance at the wheel of the fourth Chevrolet Lacetti works car; his fellow countryman Ekblom of BMW Team UK classified second fastest. The session started under threatening clouds, while the track was still partially wet after a series of showers that followed one another since the early morning.

Jörg Müller of BMW Team Germany was the first driver to pull himself up the time sheet, clocking a lap of 1:52.205, four minutes into the session. As the racing lines were drying up, Thompson in the Alfa 156 posted a 1:52.403 lap that placed him in second position. But a few minutes later Ekblom demoted Müller and Thompson to second and third respectively, posting a provisional fastest lap of 1:51.939. Another shower flooded the track with twenty minutes to go, but in the final stages the racing lines dried up again and a number of drivers managed to improve, including Rickard Rydell and Tiago Monteiro who climbed to second and fourth fastest respectively. Just before the end of the session, Rydell improved and completed a lap in 1:51.895 to top the classification for good.

Thompson's N.Technology team-mate Olivier Tielemans, who had never driven the Alfa Romeo 156 in the wet before, used the session to acclimatise to the handling characteristics of the car and the unfamiliar track and was happy with his progress during the difficult session.
 

Andrea Muller, Team Manager: “In these wet conditions obviously local knowledge is a great advantage with Rydell and Ekblom fastest! What tomorrow [Saturday] will bring who knows - we're reliant on the conditions.”

James Thompson: "When you come to a circuit for the first time and you're near the front straight away it's very encouraging, especially when carrying 20kg of success ballast... I've not driven the track before - and I've not driven the car at all for three weeks - so this is a good feeling to start the weekend with. I'm very positive for the weekend. The long straight should suit the strengths of the Alfa Romeo and I'm enjoying the circuit.”

Olivier Tielemans: “It´s my first time on this track and my first time driving this car in the wet ever, so it was very important to stay on the circuit and make the most of the track time. I was losing a fair bit of time under braking because I was being very careful and the changing conditions meant that the grip was different every lap. I have to say I like the track very much and am looking forward to qualifying."

FIA World Touring Car Championship; Anderstorp testing (Friday): 1. Rickard Rydell (SWE), Chevrolet Lacetti, 1:51.895; 2. Fredrik Ekblom (SWE), BMW 320si, 1:51.939; 3. Jorg Muller (GER), BMW 320si, 1:52.205; 4. Tiago Monteiro (POR), SEAT Leon, 1:52.363; 5. James Thompson (GBR), Alfa Romeo 156, 1:52.403; 6. Felix Porteiro (ESP), BMW 320si, 1:52.558; 7. Andy Priaulx (GBR), BMW 320si, 1:52.659; 8. Roberto Colciago (ITA), SEAT Leon, 1:52.663; 9. Alex Zanardi (ITA), BMW 320si, 1:52.664; 10. Gabriele Tarquini (ITA), SEAT Leon, 1:52.721; 26. Olivier Tielemans (NED), Alfa Romeo 156, 1:56.145.