Mugello Auto GP: Karthikeyan claims second consecutive pole

The Indian, also fastest in Friday free practice, edged out Kevin Giovesi by just 0.035 seconds.

Ghinzani racer Giovesi had caused a stir by taking an on-the-road win at Silverstone on his Auto GP debut, but was then stripped of victory for incurring a pitlane infringement, handing a maiden Auto GP win to Karthikeyan.

Giovesi demoted Karthikeyan's Super Nova team-mate Vittorio Ghirelli from provisional pole with five minutes of Mugello's half hour session remaining.

In doing so he became the first driver to break under the 1m35s barrier in the session, although he was soon joined by Karthikeyan as the session came alive.

Ghirelli responded to recover a provisional front row starting position for this afternoon's race, only for former Jordan and HRT Formula 1 driver Karthikeyan to produce a lap of 1m34.513s moments before the chequered flag.

The lap secured Karthikeyan his second pole of the season. The Indian has reduced his points deficit to the top-three in the drivers' standings after switching from Zele Racing to Super Nova International prior to the Silverstone meeting.

Double 2013 victor Sergio Campana, whose participation at Mugello had been in doubt owing to budget pressures, made it three Italians in the top-four.

The former Italian Formula 3 champion will start one place ahead of championship leader Kimiya Sato.

The Japanese, who will test for Sauber at Silverstone's F1 young driver test, jumped GP3 race-winner Robert Visoiu for fifth in the closing minutes of the session.

Auto GP debutant Christian Klien lines up in 10th.

The former Jaguar, Red Bull and HRT F1 driver is contesting his first single-seater race in three years and is also competing at Mugello for the first time.

Pos  Driver               Team/Car        Time       Gap
 1.  Narain Karthikeyan   Super Nova       1m34.583s
 2.  Kevin Giovesi        Ghinzani         1m34.618s  +0.035s
 3   Vittorio Ghirelli    Super Nova       1m34.757s  +0.174s
 4.  Sergio Campana       Ibiza            1m35.283s  +0.700s
 5.  Kimiya Sato          Euronova         1m35.525s  +0.942s
 6   Robert Visoiu        Ghinzani         1m35.603s  +1.020s
 7.  Andrea Roda          Virtuosi UK      1m35.608s  +1.025s
 8.  Meindert van Buuren  Manor MP         1m35.763s  +1.180s
 9.  Tamas Pal Kiss       Zele             1m35.791s  +1.208s
10.  Christian Klien      Zele             1m35.831s  +1.248s
11.  Daniel de Jong       Manor MP         1m36.549s  +1.966s
12.  Maxim Snegirev       Virtuosi UK      1m36.610s  +2.027s
13.  Francesco Dracone    Ibiza            1m36.777s  +2.194s
14.  Yoshitaka Kuroda     Euronova         1m36.927s  +2.344s
15.  Michele La Rosa      MLR 71           1m38.145s  +3.562s