Qual: Rossiter sets up showdown

The opening session, which fell to Rossiter, took place under the usual (for 2004) leaden skies. The opening minutes were effectively dry, but only a couple of quick laps were possible before the raindrops plummeted. Before long the track was silent, with everyone sitting in the pits. But the rain eased and a few drivers ventured out at the end.

Di Grassi was one of the few to improve, taking second on the grid. Clivio Piccione (Carlin Motorsport) was third, ahead of Menu Motorsport's Rob Austin. Piquet complained of oversteer on the fast (and chilly) Hampshire track, so landed tenth despite an improvement at the end.

Hitech Racing has had a dismal year so far, but di Grassi brought further cheer to its pit by taking pole for the second race. Austin will line up alongside the Brazilian, but it's the second row that is tantalizing. Fortec Motorsport's Rossiter starts right next to Piquet, who made strides with the car in the second session.

The third championship contender, Adam Carroll, is not as well-placed as Rossiter to close the gap to Piquet. The P1 Motorsport driver qualified sixth and ninth. He's three points behind Rossiter, who absolutely has to shut the 48-point gap to Piquet, who could mathematically sew up the title this weekend.






James Rossiter (Dallara-Opel) 1m07.123s
Lucas di Grassi (Dallara-Renault) +0.148s
Clivio Piccione (Dallara-Mugen) +0.155s
Rob Austin (Dallara-Opel) +0.162s
Danilo Dirani (Dallara-Mugen) +0.181s
Adam Carroll (Dallara-Mugen) +0.213s



Lucas di Grassi (Dallara-Renault) 1m06.904s
Rob Austin (Dallara-Opel) +0.086s
Nelson Angelo Piquet (Dallara-Mugen) +0.149s
James Rossiter (Dallara-Opel) +0.183s
Andrew Thompson (Dallara-Renault) +0.274s
Alvaro Parente (Dallara-Mugen) +0.315s