Winkelhock takes pole

The Opel driver looked set for a poor grid position after appearing to be hit from behind by Ludwig at the second hairpin halfway through the session and being forced into the pits for repairs.

But after his team completed repairs with black sticky tape, the former BTCC champion pushed his car to the limits to snatch the top spot from the grasps of Mercedes' Marcel Tiemann -- before spinning at the chicane on his slowing down lap.

Joint series leader Bernd Schneider secured third place on the grid with just two minutes of qualifying remaining, while Ludwig claimed fourth place after an equally late charge.

Opel's Stefano Modena lived up to his free practice pace by securing the fifth spot, while joint series leader Manuel Reuter will line up sixth.

There were a number of spins and incidents during the hour long session. Michael Bartels was forced out after a collision with Modena at the second hairpin, leaving him down in 14th, while 13th fastest Pedro Lamy spun backwards into the barriers at the chicane in the closing minutes.

Briton Peter Dumbreck will be forced to start from the back of the grid after his Mercedes team were unable to repair his car following his free practice crash.