Rydell heads the Nissans

pole position of the season.
James Thompson topped the times initially, but Vincent Radermecker and Jason Plato soon pushed him off the top spot.

With no sign of either of
the Nissan drivers taking to the track, it was left down to reigning
champion Rickard Rydell to set the first serious pole challenge in his
Volvo, the Swede setting a 1m15.408s for everyone to better.

With eight minutes remaining in the session both the Nissans took to the track, with Aiello going 2nd behind Rydell.

At the split David Leslie looked set to steal pole
but a lock-up at the Club chicane spoiled his lap enough to miss pole by
less than a tenth of second. A quick change of tyres by the Nissan crew
and Leslie was ready to make a second challenge with only two minutes
remaining in the session.

As the flag dropped it was Rydell who hung on to take his third pole
position of the season ahead of the Nissan pairing of David Leslie and
Laurent Aiello respectively. Volvo number two Vincent Radermecker put in a
good performance to support Rydell in fourth and complete the second row, just
ahead of Jason Plato in the first of the Renault Lagunas.

Once again it was Matt Neal who topped the independent drivers setting a
1:16.653 to secure 8th on the grid. Fellow independent Mark Blair had a
less enjoyable time, taking no part in the proceedings after an engine
failure forced the ADR Mororsport to sit out the session whilst a new
engine was rushed up from Swindon.

With the one -shot showdown scheduled for this afternoon and track
temperatures continuing to rise the scene is set for yet another Rydell
versus Leslie showdown.

Qualifying times for the Thruxton Feature Race: