Qualifying: Giovanardi on top

The Italian, who had topped the times in free practice, looked like missing out on pole. His team-mate Nicola Larini was setting the pace, but Giovanardi attacked with four minutes of the session to go to topple the former Grand Prix driver.

Larini had held pole since the start of the session. One attempt to improve was ruined by a slower car, and then Giovanardi set a quicker lap, only for Larini to reassert himself on his next lap. But that final attempt by Giovanardi won the battle.

The Alfas proved superior to their main rivals made up of BMWs, Nissans and Volvos. "It was a very good fight with my team-mate and I would like to continue like this for the rest of the season," said Giovanardi. "We did not expect to be so far ahead of the field. Maybe we were able to find the best set-up for this track, or maybe the others had a few problems."

Dirk Muller's BMW mixed it with the Alfas and won the battle for third, ahead of Paolo Ruberti and Tom Ferrier. Tommy Rustad qualified his Nissan Primera sixth, ahead of Jorg Muller's BMW and the first Volvo S60 of Rickard Rydell.

Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 156 1m47.113s
Nicola Larini Alfa Romeo 156 1m47.326s
Dirk Muller BMW 320i E46 1m48.075s
Paolo Ruberti Alfa Romeo 156 1m48.239s
Tom Ferrier Alfa Romeo 156 1m48.289s
Tommy Rustad Nissan Primera 1m48.380s
Jorg Muller BMW 320i E46 1m48.487s
Rickard Rydell Volvo S60 1m48.711s
Fredrik Ekblom BMW 320i E46 1m48.788s
Eric Cayrolle Alfa Romeo 156 1m48.838s