Qualifying 2: Liuzzi steers clear

You have to feel sorry for Matsuura (PREMA Dallara-Opel), who probably had the pace to take pole but was caught out by the championship's lesser lights, who regularly ruin qualifying sessions by spinning off near the end. Matsuura had just set the fastest first sector time when Gilles Tinguely spun off and caused a yellow, but he was not alone and the track was littered with warning flags as the tailenders jumped into gravel traps like lemmings. Even Matsuura's team-mate Ryan Briscoe joined in, whacking the wall at the final corner in the closing moments.

Paffett had sensibly started his final run early, and was willing to jeopardise the performance from his tyres for some guaranteed clear track time. He set his fastest time some nine minutes before the end of the session, which served to show how much chaos the 'tuggers' had caused.

Liuzzi's second pole of the season was also set relatively early on, while Paffett, Timo Glock, Kimmo Liimatainen, Norbert Siedler and Bernhard Auinger rounded out the top six.

Matsuura's task is now a mountainous one. He must overhaul Paffett's 18-point lead with just 20 now on offer. Needing to win both races, starting eighth today will probably seal his fate and give the title to a British driver for the first time ever.


1 Vitantonio Liuzzi, BSR Dallara-Opel, 1m34.609s
2 Gary Paffett, Rosberg Dallara-Opel, 1m34.770s
3 Timo Glock, KMS Dallara-Opel, 1m34.815s
4 Kimmo Liimatainen, Rosberg Dallara-Opel, 1m34.840s
5 Norbert Siedler, Swiss Tony Racing Dallara-Opel, 1m34.900s
6 Bernhard Auinger, BSR Dallara-Opel, 1m34.915s