Torrential rain halts qualifying

German Wolf Henzler (Durango) set a surprise fastest time in the first session, in which many drivers spun off, but deteriorating conditions made it impossible for the second group of drivers to take to the track.

'It was ridiculous,' said Ulsterman Kevin McGarrity.

'It was a complete lottery. You couldn't see where you were going and it was impossible to use full throttle on the straights.

'If it's not safe for the second group of drivers to go out, then they shouldn't have sent us out. I couldn't even see the dashboard - that's how bad the spray was.'

McGarrity failed to set a time good enough to qualify and will be joined on the sidelines by fellow championship front-runners Gonzalo Rodriguez and Stéphane Sarrazin.

Qualifying times - First Group

Provisional non-qualifiers

Stéphane Sarrazin (Gauloises), David Terrien (DAMS ), Gonzalo Rodriguez (Astromega), Andrej Pavicevic (Fortec), Kevin McGarrity (Nordic), Jeffrey van Hooydonk (Witmeur KTR), Jamie Davies (European)

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