Gene grabs pole for SEAT

The Spanish manufacturer's three Toleda Cupras have shown promise all season and were in the hunt for a podium finish at Magny-Cours two weeks ago until they either crashed out or suffered reliability problems.

Having been at the sharp end of the free practice lists, Gené set the fastest lap of the weekend to take pole position ahead of fellow Spaniard Antonio Garcia's BMW.

Channel Islander Andy Priaulx was third fastest, just two thousandths slower than Garcia, while Fabrizio Giovanardi in the only Autodelta Alfa Romeo not carrying ballast was fourth.

Frank Diefenbacher backed up Gené's excellent form with fifth fastest time in another of the SEATs. Team-mate Rickard Rydell may well have been up there too but had his times disallowed after the team was forced to change his engines.

BMW Deutschland's Dirk Muller was sixth, ahead of Autodelta drivers Augusto Farfus Jr and championship leader Gabriele Tarquini.

Jordi Gené Seat Toledo Cupra 1m48.669s
Antonio Garcia BMW 320i 1m48.826s
Andy Priaulx BMW 320i 1m48.828s
Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 156 S2000 1m48.843s
Frank Diefenbacher Seat Toledo Cupra 1m48.938s
Dirk Muller BMW 320i 1m48.977s
Augusto Farfus Jr Alfa Romeo 156 S2000 1m49.000s
Gabriele Tarquini Alfa Romeo 156 S2000 1m49.028s
Kurt Mollekens BMW 320i 1m49.050s
Jorg Muller BMW 320i 1m49.259s