Qual: Premat on Masters pole

Premat was the quicker of the two and thus will start from pole, while Jamie Green in the third ASM car had an uncharacteristically poor day - ending the second session in the gravel after a spin - and will line up back in 10th.

The top two places were decided by the times set in the first of the two qualifying sessions. A light shower in the break between the two, coupled with much warmer conditions once the weather cleared, meant most drivers failed to improve their times. One exception was James Rossiter, who did a cracking job to record the fastest time in the second session and move himself onto third on the grid.

His lap came courtesy of making good use of a late switch to new tyres. Premat, though was confident of holding the top spot and kept his second set fresh for the race.

"I think pole is very important for the race and I think have good chance because we decided to keep my tyres for tomorrow," he said.

Lucas di Grassi was the second highest British series runner and will start fourth. Championship leader Nelson Angelo Piquet made a small improvement in the second session, but will line up in sixth. Danny Watts put the Lola-Dome 12th, while Lewis Hamilton was seventh fastest in his group, so will start from 14th.

British series frontrunner Adam Carroll will start from fifth, but gave his P1 Racing team a headache by badly damaging his car when he crashed on the run down to the Turn Three long hairpin left-hander.


Alexandre Premat Dallara-Mercedes 1m32.767s
Eric Salignon Dallara-Mercedes 1m32.974s
James Rossiter Dallara-Opel 1m32.816s
Lucas di Grassi Dallara-Renault 1m33.142s
Adam Carroll Dallara-Mugen-Honda 1m32.829s
Nelson Piquet Jr Dallara-Mugen-Honda 1m33.177s