Saelens takes Pole at damp Nurburgring.

The Belgian backed up his third-place at the last round in Spain by slotting his Super Nova on pole for the dry first session in Germany. When the rain fell at the start of the second session there was no danger of his grid time being bettered.

Championship leader Bruno Junqueira starts outside the front row having similarly boxed clever in the changing conditions.

But Briton Justin Wilson was bumped down two places to fifth in the final minutes of the second session when Czech Tomas Enge jumped four places up the grid to steal third place and Enrique Bernoldi of Brazil took fourth.

Opening round winner Nicolas Minassian, of France, faces a tough task cutting into Junqueira's championship lead after qualifying ninth - jumping four places as the track dried at the end of the second session. He trails the Petrobras driver 16 to 18 in the championship. Fellow countryman Franck Montagny, sixth at the last round, starts sixth in the DAMS car.

Championship challenger and Silverstone winner Mark Webber, faces an even tougher task by sliding to a lowly 16th in the last minute rush. He has 14 points after finishing in the top three in the opening two rounds.