Qualifying: Winkelhock and Wirdheim share the poles

Markus Winkelhock will start today(Saturday)'s race from pole position, but is only 15th on the grid for Sunday's event. Bjorn Wirdheim will start that from pole, but could only manage the 10th quickest time for Saturday's race.

Winkelhock (Mucke Motorsport) outpaced Bertram Schafer Racing duo Toshihiro Kaneishi and Frank Diefenbacher to take pole for today's event. Joao Paulo de Oliveira, who has announced he is staying with Swiss Racing Team next season, was fourth fastest, ahead of Winkelhock's team mate Stefan Mucke.

Nurburgring winner Wirdheim has pole for Sunday's race, ahead of Mucke, series leader Diefenbacher, local racer Norbert Siedler, Wirdheim's team mate Kousuke Matsuura and Pierre Kaffer.

Kaffer, who lies second in the championship, will start Saturday's race from 21st on the grid, proving just how random the qualifying order can be.

Britain's Gary Paffett bucked the rule, however, and will start both races from eighth on the grid.

Markus Winkelhock, Mucke Motorsport Dallara-Opel, 1m27.707s
Toshihiro Kaneishi, Bertram Schafer Racing Dallara-Opel, 1m27.807s
Frank Diefenbacher, Bertram Schafer Racing Dallara-Opel, 1m28.013s
Joao Paulo de Oliviera, Swiss Tony Racing Team Dallara-Opel, 1m28.030s
Stefan Mucke, Mucke Motorsport Dallara-Toyota, 1m28.036s
Raffaele Giammaria, Cram Competition Dallara-Opel, 1m28.038s

Bjorn Wirdheim, Prema PowerTeam Dallara-Opel, 1m28.255s
Stefan Mucke, Mucke Motorsport Dallara-Opel, 1m28.546s
Frank Diefenbacher, Bertram Schafer Racing Dallara-Opel, 1m28.736s
Norbert Seidler, Palfinger Dallara-Opel, 1m28.829s
Kousuke Matsuura, Prema PowerTeam Dallara-Opel, 1m28.883s
Pierre Kaffer, Team Kolles Dallara-Mugen, 1m28.911s