Button shines at Spa

The British teenager was quickest in both qualifying sessions today in his Promatecme UK Dallara-Renault, setting the fastest time as early as the fourth lap in the opening half-hour.

Title combatants Luciano Burti and Marc Hynes were only just adrift of Button in second and third, the latter improving his times dramatically as the session wore on.

'I'm quite happy,' smiled Button.

'I got the time in when it was important - the track was quite cool at that time. We had a few niggly problems in the Friday test, but we sorted them out and the car went well.'

The second session was slower, with none of the top three improving.

'I didn't get a perfect run,' added Button.

'The car's working well and we've done consistent times and it's going to be very close, although I don't think we're all going to be on the track by the end of the first 10 laps.'

Burti had an upturn in his recent form to plant his Stewart Racing Dallara-Mugen in second.

'Here you can improve the car only a little bit and find a lot of time,' said the Brazilian.

'I'm sure we can improve it further.'

Series leader Hynes was third in his Manor Motorsport Dallara-Mugen.

He said, 'Here as much as anywhere the team are lacking experience because it's their first year in F3.

'We just need to fiddle around a bit. It's still getting better - my quickest lap was my last.'

Kristian Kolby drove a blinder in the afternoon to take second fastest time in session and fourth overall.

The Fortec Motorsport-run Dane felt his Dallara-Mugen should have been even quicker, but he was held up on both his quick laps by other cars losing control.

German series leader Christijan Albers netted fifth in his Bertram Schafer Racing Dallara-Opel, a good effort from the Dutchman, who is unused to the Avon tyres used in the British series.

He shaded Aluizio Coelho in the second Promatecme Dallara.

Completing the top 10 was local hero Yves Olivier (JB Motorsport Dallara-Opel), Frenchman Julien Beltoise (ASM Dallara-Renault), Portuguese Tiago Monteiro (ASM Dallara-Renault) and Andrew Kirkaldy (Stewart Racing Dallara-Mugen).

That was a strong recovery from the Scot, who went off at Les Combes on his fourth lap in the first session and was driving a repaired Stewart Racing Dallara-Mugen.

Regular front-runners Matt Davies and Narain Karthikeyan were disappointed with 13th and 17th places respectively.