Wedlinger takes pole at Brno

The Austrian was over a second clear of Mike Hezemans' Phoenix Carsport Z06 Corvette, and 1.5 seconds under last year's fastest qualifying time

The Jetalliance car, which Wendlinger shares with Ryan Sharp, has been on imposing form throughout practice. After standing down from the previous round in Bucharest last month with technical trouble, the Austrian team will be hoping that the niggling reliability issues that have plagued their campaign will not resurface on race day.

"We've been very competitive all year but haven't finished many races," said Wendlinger. "The reason the times are so much quicker than last year is down to the resurfaced track. They've removed nearly all of the bumps and made some of the exits wider."

Hezemans' second spot was more tightly contested. Only a tenth separated the Dutchman from Anthony Kumpen's improving Saleen, reaping the benefit of intensive development work by Pirelli, and Christophe Bouchut's fourth place Selleslagh Racing Corvette.

"Karl's Aston has a good engine," said Hezemans, "and with all of these ups and downs here, as well as carrying little ballast, it should have gone well. Even so, the gap is bigger than I expected. I am quite happy though, as I am surprised to be second given the massive understeer we had."

Philip Peter was fifth in the Gigawave Aston, but a late attempt to improve on his position resulted in a spin at turn ten.

Ballast appears to be a greater handicap at the rolling Czech circuit than in previous rounds; heavily weighted championship leader Michael Bartels could manage only tenth, behind Martin Basso's antiquated Ferrari 550.

Wherever Bartels finished this weekend, the German will remain in the points' lead entering round eight in Nogaro, such is his and partner Andrea Bertolini's current 12.5 point advantage.

In the GT2 scrap, CR Scuderia's guest driver Dirk Mueller took pole-position, and 12th overall. Mueller was making only his second outing for the squad since racing in the Spa 24 Hours. Had teammate Andrew Kirkaldy set the time it would have moved the Scott onto more pole-positions than any other driver competing in the championship.

"I must say I am here because I am replacing Rob Bell," said Muller, "and he is also on pole in GT2 for the LMS race at Silverstone, so it has been a good weekend.

"I have been working well with Andrew and the car is now awesome. We're two seconds quicker in quali than on my long run this morning, I was really surprised at how much grip the car has on low-fuel."

Ferrari is set to have a close fight in tomorrow's one hour race. Porsche's Richard Westbrook had been fastest for the opening ten minutes of the 15 minute session, and the Brit' is confident for his chances on race day.

The championship leading AF Corse Ferrari, piloted in qualifying by Gianmaria Bruni, could only manage third in class, stymied by a hefty 85kg of ballast.