Maserati Dominate Spa Qualifying

The number nine crew of Michael Bartels, Timo Scheider and Eric Van de Poele edged out the number 15 car of car of Fabio Babini, Thomas Biagi and Jamie Davies by less than half of a second after three sessions.

The Maserati MC12 was not allowed to take part in the Le Mans 24 Hours after organisers ACO said it did not meet their technical regulations.

However, the FIA GT championship has welcomed the squad and the team dominated qualifying with one of the cars fastest in all three qualifying sessions.

German Bartels was in the leading Maserati when he set the pole winning time, recording a 2:14.845 lap around the famous Belgian circuit.

The majority of fastest times were set in yesterday's dry qualifying session, after the second night session was shortened due to a thunderstorm at the Belgian track. Only a handful of competitors improved their times today.

Aston Martin, competing, in their second round of the FIA GT championship after winning at Silverstone, qualified third with Marc Goosens, Peter Kox and Pedro Lamy.

The second Aston Martin of David Brabham, Darren Turner and Stephane Sarrazin was the highest placed car to improve in the final session.

Yesterday it lost its two fastest times because it went through two red lights at the pitlane exit. The number 28 car will start seventh.