Alfa Romeo End 1-2-3 in Qualifying

The Italian manufacturer took the top three spots during qualifying, benefiting from the 20kg weight reduction the FIA Touring Car Bureau gave to front-wheel drive cars last week. James Thompson was second on home soil with Fabrizio Giovanardi third. All three were separated by only 0.144 seconds.

BMW still proved that they will be competitive despite the resultant weight handicap for rear wheel-drive cars, with Britain's Andy Priaulx qualifying fourth.

The home crowd has something else to get excited about with Championship debutant Jason Plato. SEAT's regular BTCC team leader is competing in occasional WTCC races this season and used his track knowledge to qualify seventh.

Championship leader Dirk M?ller failed to post a competitive time after a spin.

GR Asia's Tom Coronel claimed pole for the Independent Trophy, qualifying 13th overall.

WTCC Qualifying Results - Silverstone:

Pos  Driver               Make                  Time             Laps
 1.  Gabriele Tarquini    Alfa Romeo 156        1:25.639          10
 2.  James Thompson       Alfa Romeo 156        1:25.655 + 0.016  12
 3.  Fabrizio Giovanardi  Alfa Romeo 156        1:25.783 + 0.144  13
 4.  Andy Priaulx         BMW 320i              1:25.856 + 0.217  10
 5.  Peter Terting        SEAT Toledo Cupra     1:25.952 + 0.313  12
 6.  Augusto Farfus Jr.   Alfa Romeo 156        1:25.989 + 0.350  14
 7.  Jason Plato          SEAT Toledo Cupra     1:26.067 + 0.428  11
 8.  Rickard Rydell       SEAT Toledo Cupra     1:26.154 + 0.515   9
 9.  Antonio Garcia       BMW 320i              1:26.175 + 0.536  14
10.  Jordi Gene           SEAT Toledo Cupra     1:26.315 + 0.676  11
11.  Jorg Muller          BMW 320i              1:26.423 + 0.784  13
12.  Roberto Colciago     Honda Accord Euro R   1:26.619 + 0.980  14
13.  Tom Coronel          Seat Toledo Cupra     1:26.825 + 1.186  12
14.  Alessandro Zanardi   BMW 320i              1:26.837 + 1.198  14
15.  Alain Menu           Chevrolet Lacetti     1:26.919 + 1.280  14
16.  Nicola Larini        Chevrolet Lacetti     1:26.997 + 1.358   7
17.  Stefano D'aste       BMW 320i              1:27.080 + 1.441  12
18.  Robert Huff          Chevrolet Lacetti     1:27.080 + 1.441  10
19.  Carl Rosenblad       BMW 320i              1:27.313 + 1.674  14
20.  Valle Makela         Seat Toledo Cupra     1:27.325 + 1.686  10
21.  Adriano De Micheli   Honda Accord Euro R   1:27.416 + 1.777  13
22.  Giuseppe Ciro        BMW 320i              1:27.535 + 1.896  18
23.  Marc Hennerici       BMW 320i              1:28.107 + 2.468  11
24.  Thomas Klenke        Ford Focus            1:28.170 + 2.531  14
25.  Thomas Jager         Ford Focus            1:28.289 + 2.650  13
26.  Dirk Muller          BMW 320i              1:30.283 + 4.644   5