Pole is no surprise for Walfisch

'It's an honour, not a surprise,' the Draco driver said.

'I know I have struggled a little since I finished third in the opening race, but we have working very hard on specific things to find a set-up that suits me.

'I honestly think I had a car that was good enough to challenge for pole in the last race, but I didn't make best use of it.

'Today I had a good run - and I think I could have been at least a couple of tenths faster if I had found a perfect clear lap.'

Walfisch was almost four-tenths of a second faster than series leader Nick Heidfeld (West Competition), who hopes to wrap up the championship this weekend.

'If I get a chance to win I'll take it,' he said, 'but the most important thing for me is to finish ahead of my main rivals in an effort to secure the title.

'I had chance to do that at Hockenheim but made a mistake; I don't intend to do that again.'

Heidfeld's title rivals Gonzalo Rodriguez (Astromega) and Bruno Junqueira (Petrobras) start from rows three and nine.

Junqueira originally qualified on the front row - but he had his best two times disallowed for speeding past waved yellow caution flags. That promoted Frenchman Stéphane Sarrazin (Gauloises Formula) to the front of the grid.

'I think I could have been on pole anyway,' Sarrazin said, 'but I saw the waved yellow flags and slowed down. When I finished on the podium at Hockenheim I promised we would be strong for the rest of the season, and I think I have shown that.

'I started at the front here last season but was beaten by Nick [Heidfeld]; I just need to make sure I get a better start this time.'