Aston Martin surprised at LMP1 pace

German driver Stefan Mucke outqualified one of the factory diesel Audi R10s as he lapped within two seconds of the pole-sitting works Peugeot 908 Hdi FAP, to put the car easily fastest of the petrol-powered prototypes.

Aston Martin Racing's technical director George Howard-Chappell said he was encouraged by the car's potential at such an early stage of its development: "Overall we are a little surprised to be in this position, but also very pleased with the speed of the car and the performance of our Aston Martin engine."

"That said, the programme is still very new and our first 1000 km race will be a big challenge," he added.

Charouz Racing Technology, who are running the car in association with Aston Martin, were equally pleased with the result.

"I am overjoyed," said team principal Antonin Charouz. "I had hoped that we would be the fastest car with a petrol engine but we managed to get even more - we beat one works Audis.

"Of course, it is only qualifying and tomorrow's race will be very long but we have already shown that our pace is really good. We showed it not only in the qualifying but also in the morning's practice."

Mucke added that he believed he could have gone even faster in the frenetic 20-minute qualifying session if fortune had been more in his favour.

"We did not have a lot of luck in the qualifying," he said. "I was doing my first flying lap on new tyres when they put out red flag. I had the same set of tyres for the second run and I felt that their peak is gone.

"Anyway, I am really happy with the position I was able to get. It is the debut of the car and we are in the second row in a sandwich of factory Audi diesels. It is not that bad."