Bad start for British champ Kerr

Kerr hit the barriers at Fisherman's Bend on his first flying lap in the opening free practice session of the weekend. The car's rear end was badly damaged, but his Alan Docking Racing team repaired it for the first qualifying session in which he managed the 24th fastest time.

"I don't know what happened," Kerr explained. "I turned in normally and then suddenly it spun around on me. It's disappointing but we will live to fight another day.

"I can't believe my luck today," said Kerr."Every time I have gone out something has happened, but hopefully I have had all my bad fortune now and things will be okay from now on.

"I take heart from the fact that the same thing happened at Zandvoort [for the Marlboro Masters], when I had to go out in a wet session, and I am hopeful that I will be able to get in the top ten tomorrow.

"We've found a few things out on the set-up that we will be able to change, like our gear ratios, and hopefully I will have a much better time."

Kerr's chances of moving up the grid will depend on the sunny weather holding - with forecasts predicting rain showers for the rest of the weekend.

Briton Jamie Green grabbed provisional pole position for the Asian Formula Renault Challenge at Macau, outpacing his closest competitor by more than two seconds. In Formula Asia, British Formula Renault Champion Danny Watts secured a provisional 10th place on the grid.