[11][12] First practice was topped by reigning MRF Challenge champion Jamie Chadwick, who put the #55 half a second ahead of the experienced Finn Emma Kimiläinen and Ferrari sportscar driver Fabienne Wohlwend.

Clutch issues sidelined Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain driver Esmee Hawkey whilst American Shea Holbrook brought out the only red flag of the session.

Drivers struggled to adapt to the conditions, with both Tasmin Pepper and Jessica Hawkins spinning into the gravel and bringing out red flags – the latter returning to the garage on the back of a tow-truck.

On the restart, Chadwick got back past Powell whilst Marta García moved herself into 3rd place at the expense of Moore, and the top three began to pull away from the rest of the field.

The battle for fourth, fifth and sixth between Visser, Moore and Wohlwend also began to pull away from Esmee Hawkey in 7th, who was struggling for pace and came under attack from Vittoria Piria and the hard-charging Miki Koyama.

Chadwick went on to win the first W Series race ahead of Powell and García on the podium, with a gap back to the group of Visser, Moore and Wohlwend with Koyama coming from 17th on the grid to finish 7th, with the points rounded out by Tasmin Pepper (who also made a comeback having started 16th), Gosia Rdest and Caitlin Wood.