Qualifying: Joest Audi ahead

Once again, the LMP900 Audi R8s came under strong pressure from the lighter LMP675 Dyson Racing Lolas. James Weaver and Butch Leitzinger qualified second, 0.331s behind Joest's R8.

Johnny Herbert and JJ Lehto, in need of a win to boost their championship hopes, could only manage third in Champion Racing's R8, ahead of the second Dyson of Chris Dyson and Andy Wallace. The Intersport Racing Lola was fifth, ahead of the first of JML's Panoz LMP01 machines.

The Prodrive Ferrari team claimed a one-two qualifying effort in the GTS class, with Jan Magnussen's fastest lap of 1m22.350s also establishing a new class lap record. Peter Kox and Tomas Enge were just 0.060s slower in the second 550 Maranello.

The works Chevrolet Corvettes were unable to match the ultimate speed of their Ferrari arch-rivals, with the manufacturers lead car, driven by Oliver Gavin and Kelly Collins, some 0.738s off the pace.

Alex Job Racing claimed another pole in the GT class, with Sascha Maassen's best time of 1m26.182s also setting a new class lap record. Timo Bernhard was second fastest in the second Job Porsche, with just 0.293s separating the two.