Aiello takes pole for Sprint race

Aiello needed only one flying lap around the circuit in his Nissan Primera to eclipse the competition, going over 0.3s quicker than anyone else.

Rickard Rydell was second quickest in his Volvo S40, with Jean-Christophe Boullion a surprise third in his Renault Laguna.

David Leslie, Aiello's Nissan team-mate and the only man who could take the title from him, qualified fourth.

Going out right at the end of the session Leslie ran wide at Copse and wrecked his lap.

He crossed the line with just seconds remaining, but could only improve to fourth.

This was another session where everyone went out at the end, and it was Vincent Radermecker who was to blame.

At the start of the session the engine blew in his Volvo, dropping oil at Abbey - enough to bring out the red flag.

Once the marshals had done their best to clean up the oil, the session restarted - but, as at Oulton Park last week, everyone wanted someone else to go and clean the track. So everyone sat around and waited until the last few minutes.

Matt Neal was the quickest Independent, but he is down in twelfth in his Nissan Primera.

As with Leslie he made a mistake on his flying lap, but managed to keep going without losing too much time.

Will Hoy pushed him close, just 0.038s slower in his Renault Laguna.