UPDATE 2-Motor racing-Hamilton surprise fastest in Germany

* Hamilton quickest in free practice

* Webber fastest in morning session

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By Alan Baldwin

NUERBURGRING, Germany, July 10 (Reuters) - World champion Lewis Hamilton returned to the scene of his worst Formula One crash on Friday to set the fastest time in German Grand Prix free practice.

The 24-year-old Briton, who crashed heavily at the Nuerburgring in his debut 2007 season, was surprisingly ahead of the championship pace-setters with a best lap of one minute 32.149 seconds in the afternoon.

The performance was a rare positive for the McLaren driver, who has struggled to score just nine points in eight races in an uncompetitive car and is 55 points adrift of championship-leading compatriot Jenson Button.

The last time he topped a practice session was in Bahrain on April 24 and McLaren have not finished in the points in their last four races.