Qualifying 1: Courtney as usual

The Carlin Motorsport driver lapped the North Eastern venue in 1m14.606s, two-tenths clear of Manor Motorsport's American charge Richard Antinucci. It was Courtney's eighth pole from nine qualifying sessions.

Heikki Kovalainen (Fortec) starts third, ahead of surprise package Alan van der Merwe. The South African just pipped Robbie Kerr for fourth, while the second Fortec car of Fabio Carbone was sixth fastest.

Silverstone and Donington winners Mark Taylor and Michael Keohane were seventh and eighth respectively, while new Promatecme partnership Bruce Jouanny and Matthew Gilmore rounded out the top 10. Ronnie Bremer, a double front row starter in the previous round at Knockhill for Manor, will start a lowly 16th.

The Scholarship Class will have its own race for round nine, and series leader Adam Carroll will start from pole, ahead of Gavin Smith and Stephen Colbert.


1 James Courtney Carlin 1m14.606s
2 Richard Antinucci Manor 1m14.828s
3 Heikki Kovalainen Fortec 1m14.931s
4 Alan van der Merwe Carlin 1m15.010s
5 Robbie Kerr ADR 1m15.095s
6 Fabio Carbone Fortec 1m15.182s
7 Mark Taylor Manor 1m15.207s
8 Michael Keohane Carlin 1m15.266s
9 Bruce Jouanny Promatecme 1m15.398s
10 Matthew Gilmore Promatecme 1m15.418s


1 Adam Carroll Sweeney 1m15.517s
2 Gavin Smith Meritus 1m15.731s
3 Stephen Colbert Meritus 1m15.749s