All-Lola front row at Donington

'The car is just getting better and better, and we have shown we can outqualify the Ferraris - we have to turn that into a race win.'

With a lap of 1:24.639, he gave the team their third pole of the season -just 0.255 seconds ahead of the Kremer Lola Ford, driven by John Nielsen.

'I missed a gear on what would have been my fastest lap, and that cost me the pole,' the experienced Danish driver said afterwards.

The JB Giesse Ferrari 333SP cars, the dominant force so far in the SRWC, could only manage third and sixth in qualifying, with last year's Champion Emmanuel Collard lapping in 1:25.226 to take the third place on the grid.

The steadily improving GLV Brums Ferrari, driven by Gianni Lavaggi and Mazzacane was fourth, ahead of the Target 24 Riley&Scott, which took pole in Enna-Pergusa.

The qualifying session was halted early on, when the Italtechnica Ferrari333SP, driven by Gianluca Giraudi, and Richard Forbes' MBR-Rover left the track, hitting the barriers and sustaining heavy damage to the cars.

The drivers, however, were not hurt, although Forbes was treated for neckstrain.