Biagi takes pole after dead heat
Thomas Biagi and Robert Lechner finished in a remarkable dead heat in qualifying for the penultimate round of the FIA GT championship at Nogaro
Biagi, who jointly leads the drivers' standings, will start in pole position by virtue of preceding Lechner in setting his 1:23.763 lap time.
Lechner's Jetalliance Racing teammate Karl Wendlinger took third place on the grid, just 0.029 seconds off the front row, despite carrying an extra 70kg of ballast in his Aston Martin.
Christian Montanari took on qualifying honours for the second Vitaphone Maserati he shares with Miguel Ramos, and they will start from fourth place.
"It wasn't a perfect lap," said Biagi. "In the race tomorrow there are many drivers fighting for the championship, I just hope the fight stays fair."
Lechner, who does not feature in the title battle, felt there had been time in the car to gain the top spot. "As a driver you always think you can go faster," said Lechner. "Today pole was in my hands, it's just a shame Thomas set the time first."
Fabio Babini was fastest of the Pirelli runners, securing fifth place in the BMS Aston Martin. Jean Marc Gounon will have his first outing of the year with the squad, partnering Ferdinando Monfardini, having previously competed for BMS in their Ferrari 333SP.
Gianmaria Bruni took a decisive pole position for AF Corse in GT2. Bruni required just one flying lap to set his pole time, such was the Italian's superiority over the sister AF Corse car of Dirk Muller.
Muller in turn held a healthy 0.5-second margin over Rui Aguas' similar 430. Emmanuel Collard upheld Porsche's honour in fourth place with the BMS Scuderia Italia team's 997 GT3 RSR.
Darren Turner caused the only red flag of the afternoon when the Englishman beached his Scuderia Ecosse 430 backwards in the gravel at the Henri Orieller corner, behind the recently refurbished Nogaro's former pit buildings. Turner will start eighth in class.
Pos Cl Drivers Car Time 1. GT1 Biagi/Bartels Maserati MC12 GT1 1:23.763 2. GT1 Lechner/Lichtner-Hoyer Aston Martin DBR9 +0.000 3. GT1 Wendlinger/Sharp Aston Martin DBR9 +0.029 4. GT1 Montanari/Ramos Maserati MC12 GT1 +0.120 5. GT1 Babini/Davies Aston Martin DBR9 +0.233 6. GT1 Pier Guidi/Giannoccaro Maserati MC12 GT1 +0.332 7. GT1 Bertolini/Piccini Maserati MC12 GT1 +0.338 8. GT1 Kumpen/Longin Corvette C5R +0.525 9. GT1 Bouchut/Mucke Lamborghini Murcielago +0.784 10. GT1 Hezemans/Deletraz Corvette C6R +1.273 11. GT1 Monfardini/Gounon Aston Martin DBR9 +1.919 12. GT1 Daoudi/Aucott Maserati MC12 GT1 +2.297 13. GT1 Dumas/Adam Ferrari 550 Maranello +2.486 14. GT2 Bruni/Ortelli Ferrari 430 GT2 +3.265 15. GT1 Zacchia/Jakubowski Ferrari 550 Maranello +3.438 16. GT2 Muller/Vilander Ferrari 430 GT2 +3.831 17. GT1 Merafina/Lebon Corvette C5R +3.949 18. GT2 Aguas/Peter Ferrari 430 GT2 +4.336 19. GT2 Collard/Malucelli Porsche 997 GT3 RSR +4.430 20. GT2 Kirkaldy/Bell Ferrari 430 GT2 +4.613 21. GT1 Kutemann/Gosse Maserati MC12 GT1 +4.893 22. GT2 Ruberti/Mediani Ferrari 430 GT2 +4.928 23. GT2 Pompidou/Zani Porsche 997 GT3 RSR +4.970 24. GT2 Turner/Mullen Ferrari 430 GT2 +5.061 25. GT2 Cressoni/Rugolo Ferrari 430 GT2 +5.774 26. G2 Kuppens/Leinders Gillet Vertigo +6.017 27. G2 Carcone/Prignaud/Avenel Chrysler Viper GTSR +9.819
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