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Qualifying 1: Duncan Huisman on pole

Dutchman Duncan Huisman cured the handling problems that had blighted his first practice session to secure provisional pole position for the SJM Guia Race on Thursday. The BMW driver snatched the top spot from Japan's Nobuteru Taniguchi with 15 minutes of qualifying remaining and claimed afterwards that he was confident he would keep hold of the position in final qualifying

"That was a good lap really," said Huisman, who ended the session 1.032 seconds clear of Taniguchi's Toyota. "After this morning's problems we sat down and discussed how to make the car perfect and the changes helped. I decided to take my new tyres in that session because of the weather predictions, and the fact it could rain tomorrow. But I am very happy with the set-up."

German Franz Engstler was third fastest, despite being involved in an accident that caused the red flag to be brought out with 10 minutes of qualifying remaining. He hit Cheang Chong Hoi up the back at the exit of the Dona Maria corner and pushed the Honda driver into the barriers. The impact broke one of Hoi's wheels and left him stranded in the middle of the track.

Local hero Andre Couto was happy with his fourth fastest time but believed he could have gone a lot quicker had he not been accidentally held-up by BMW team-mate Huisman at the end of the session.

Couto's other team-mate, Jorg Muller, was fifth fastest, while Italian Nicola Larini bounced back from his accident in free practice to secure the sixth fastest time.

British American Racing's Formula 1 test driver Anthony Davidson ended up 12th, just more than five seconds slower than the provisional pole position time. Briton Tim Harvey in the Peugeot was 15th despite only completing one flying lap before crashing and causing the first red flag, just 10 minutes into the session.

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