Qualifying 2: Courtney makes it two...

After already claiming the top spot in the first of the season-opening races, Courtney snatched pole position in an exciting qualifying session for the race on Monday afternoon.

Ten drivers held the top slot at some point during the 20-minute session but Courtney banged in the best lap of the session with just two minutes remaining. The Australian had a wild ride at Clearways mid-way through the session but recovered to put his Carlin Motorsport Dallara Mugen Honda on pole position.

"I had a bit of understeer at Clearways and the gravel sucked me in," said James. "When you are pushing as hard as we do, these things happen. My engineers calmed me down and I had another shot at pole and did it. The car was flawless."

About landing pole Courtney added: "That's the first part of it done, now. We've just got to get on and do the rest."

Britain's Robbie Kerr was second fastest. He and Courtney were nose to tail on their final qualifying runs. Kerr improved on his previous best time, but lost pole when Courtney went over the line a fraction of a second later. It was still a fine effort by the Alan Docking Racing driver. "It went fairly well!" he joked after the session.

Third quickest was Frenchman Bruce Jouanny for Promatecme who was also on pole briefly but equalled his best-ever F3 grid position, while fourth fastest was his team mate Ernani Judice.

Fifth on the grid was Mark Taylor whose Manor Motorsport Dallara Mugen Honda needed a battery change and sixth was Irishman Michael Keohane for Carlin Motorsport.

Rob Austin, briefly on pole, ended the 20 minutes seventh fastest ahead of Danish driver Ronnie Bremer and Finn Heikki Kovalainen while Richard Antinucci was tenth in a car rebuilt after a big crash earlier in the day.

Clivio Piccione was fastest in the Scholarship Class for year-old cars ahead of Gavin Smith and Jesper Carlsen, although Sweeney Racing suffered dramas for both its cars. Adam Carroll suffered an engine cutting out on his first lap and hence he never seta time, and team mate Billy Asaro lost most of the session after the car lost second gear.

James Courtney Carlin 1m18.313s
Robbie Kerr Docking 1m18.446s
Bruce Jouanny Promatecme 1m18.849s
Ernani Judice Promatecme 1m18.888s
Mark Taylor Manor 1m18.929s
Michael Keohanne Carlin 1m18.987s
Rob Austin Menu 1m18.989s
Ronnie Bremer Manor 1m19.084s
Heikki Kovalainen Fortec 1m19.150s
Richard Antinucci Manor 1m19.241s

Clivio Piccione T-Sport 1m19.826
Gavin Smith Meritus 1m19.997s
Jesper Carlsen Ecencial 1m20.115s