After the Race of the Czech Republic, Yvan Muller was leading the drivers' championship by a reduced margin of five points of Gabriele Tarquini.

[1] His replacement was Japanese racer Yukinori Taniguchi, who had previously driven for N. Technology in the 2008 World Touring Car Championship season.

[2] Tarquini set the pace in the opening free practice session, leading Chevrolet driver Robert Huff.

The session was red flagged twice, firstly when Stefano D'Aste stuck his Scuderia Proteam Motorsport BMW 320si into a tyre wall.

The red flags were out for the second time at the end of the session when Tiago Monteiro went off at the Hasseroder Curve as rain started to fall, bringing first practice to an early close.

Michelisz was fifth and Tarquini was sixth while Tom Coronel, Muller and Gené completed the top nine ahead of Monteiro.

[7] Starting from third on the grid, Priaulx passed pole sitter Michelisz to take the lead of the race at the first corner.

Huff tapped Michelisz wide at turn one and the Zengő driver dropped to eleventh and out of the points behind the advancing trio.