Qualifying, race 1: Wirdheim shocks

Wirdheim, who lies 11th in the championship, was the first and only driver to crack the 1m02s barrier so far in his Prema PowerTeam Dallara-Opel. He pipped Hockenheim winner Joao Paulo de Oliveira and Markus Winkelhock by less than a tenth of a second around Nurburgring's short circuit.

Stefan Mucke will start fourth, ahead of Britain's Gary Paffett, who leapt 14 places from his starting position for Sunday's race.

Things went in the opposite direction, however, for series leader Frank Diefenbacher. The German, who was third quickest yesterday, slumped to a lowly 19th today. Yesterday's poleman Pierre Kaffer will start from the lower reaches of the top 10.

Today's race starts at 16.30 local time (15.30BST).

Bjorn Wirdheim, Prema PowerTeam Dallara-Opel, 1m02.923s
Joao Paulo de Oliviera, Swiss Tony Racing Team Dallara-Opel, 1m03.008s
Markus Winkelhock, Mucke Motorsport Dallara-Opel, 1m03.011s
Stefan Mucke, Mucke Motorsport Dallara-Opel, 1m03.074s
Gary Paffett, Team Rosberg Dallara-Opel, 1m03.100s
Hannes Lachinger, GM Motorsport Dallara-Toyota, 1m03.173s