Qualifying, race 2: Oh Frankie

The German lapped his Bertram Schafer Racing Dallara-Opel in 1m36.399s, less than a tenth clear of Nicolas Kiesa's GM Motorsport Dallara-Toyota. The point Diefenbacher earned moves him to within five points of his series leading team mate Toshihiro Kaneishi.

The Japanese driver could only manage third place today, ahead of Stefan Mucke, who lies fourth in the championship in his Mucke Motorsport Dallara-Opel. The second placed driver in the series, Pierre Kaffer, was 12th fastest in his Team Kolles Dallara-Mugen, despite setting the pace through most of the speed traps.

Britain's Gary Paffett could only manage the 10th quickest time in his Team Rosberg Dallara-Opel, six-tenths off pole. Toyota's Australian protégé Ryan Briscoe, who made his F3 debut at the Marlboro Masters, was 13th quickest on his German debut in a Prema-run Dallara-Opel.

Qualifying for round 13 of the series (Saturday's race) takes place tomorrow morning.

Frank Diefenbacher, Bert Schafer Racing Dallara-Opel, 1m36.399s
Nicolas Kiesa, GM Motorsport Dallara-Toyota, 1m36.445s
Toshihiro Kaneishi, Bert Schafer Racing Dallara-Opel, 1m36.524s
Stefan Mucke, Mucke Motorsport Dallara-Opel, 1m36.565s
Joao Paulo de Oliviera, Swiss Tony Racing Dallara-Opel, 1m36.644s
Bjorn Wirdheim, Prema PowerTeam Dallara-Opel, 1m36.814s