Qualifying: Carbone on pole

The 50-car entry was split into two groups of odd and even numbers, with Fortec driver Carbone topping the times in the later set. He was only fourth fastest in the first session, but found extra speed in the second.

Earlier rainfall cooled the temperature, allowing the drivers to improve on their earlier times. And Carbone did so in style, setting three consecutive times good enough for pole. It marks the Brazilian's third F3 pole, but he has yet to win a race.

Frenchman Olivier Pla will start alongside Carbone after topping the odd numbers' group in his ASM-entered car. It was a good day for both Fortec and ASM, with the other drivers Heikki Kovalainen and Tristan Gommendy qualifying on the second row.

That means the top four cars are all powered by Renault engines, with Manor Motorsport's Ronnie Bremer proving the quickest of the Mugen-Honda drivers.

British championship frontrunners Robbie Kerr and James Courtney endured a disappointing day. They both qualified sixth in their respective groups, leaving them with a lot of work to do if they want to win the big race.

Courtney is still suffering from a headache as he makes his comeback following his 180mph Jaguar Formula 1 test crash at Monza last month.

Fabio Carbone Fortec Dallara-Renault 1m33.639s
Tristan Gommendy ASM Dallara-Renault 1m33.823s
Ronnie Bremer Manor Dallara-Mugen 1m33.831s
Stefan de Groot JB Dallara-Opel 1m33.835s
Kousuke Matsuura Prema Dallara-Opel 1m33.847s
Robbie Kerr Docking Dallara-Mugen 1m33.931s

Olivier Pla ASM Dallara-Renault 1m33.942s
Heikki Kovalainen Fortec Dallara-Renault 1m34.021s
Robert Doornbos Ghinzani Dallara-Mugen 1m34.027s
Bruno Besson Saulnier Dallara-Renault 1m34.031s
Vitantonio Liuzzi BSR Dallara-Opel 1m34.072s
James Courtney Carlin Dallara-Mugen 1m34.143s