Liverpool surge to top in Estoril

Valles lapped the former Portuguese Grand Prix venue in 1:26.055, a whopping 0.856s faster than his nearest rival, Atletico Madrid's Andy Soucek. Soucek overcame a number of wild lock-ups at Turn 1 to set the second fastest time of 1:26.911.

Series leader Davide Rigon was third fastest, setting his 1:27.022 for Beijing Guaon in the first of the two 30-min sessions that ran back-to-back after this morning's early session - which he had topped.

AS Roma was fourth fastest with debutant Franck Perera, a time also set in the first session, with former Williams and Jaguar F1 racer Antonio Pizzonia next up for Corinthians of Brazil.

Kasper Andersen maintained his good form for Olympikos with sixth overall, ahead of Robert Doornbos (AC Milan), Borja Garcia (Sevilla), Alessandro Pier Guidi (Galatasaray) and Ryan Dalziel (Rangers).

The other British club, Tottenham Hotspur, continues to struggle after a late call-up for Dominik Jackson. Their performance has mirrored the club's start to the football Premiership, and they were anchored firmly to the bottom of the table around 4secs off the pace.