Rydell leads SEAT front row

Rydell snatched his first pole position of the season for SEAT in the final moments of the session with a lap of 1:34.483.

The changeable British weather made for an intriguing tactical battle throughout the field, as drivers started the half-hour session on wet weather tyres but switched to slicks in the final minutes as the Kent circuit dried out.

Seemingly, all of the manufacturer-backed drivers held the provisional pole at some point, but it was SEAT's drivers who continued to look the strongest, and Rydell was able to make the best of the drying track.

Peter Terting was second quickest, just 0.132 seconds behind, having sat on pole until teammate Rydell took the top spot in the dying moments of the session.

Robert Huff scored a superb result for Chevrolet with the third quickest time for his home round. It could have been even better, though, but Huff crashed his Lacetti heavily into the barriers at the exit of Westfield on his final flying lap, when his first sector time suggested he could have challenged Rydell's time.

Huff was uninjured in the accident, but his team now face a hefty night's work to repair the car for tomorrow's two races.

Yvan Muller made it three SEAT Leons in the top four positions with the fourth fastest time on his return to British soil, having left the British Touring Car Championship for the WTCC this season.

Alain Menu put in another strong performance for Chevrolet with fifth, ahead of SEAT driver and fellow BTCC title winner James Thompson.

Seventh place was good enough for Tom Coronel to secure the Independent class pole position in his privateer Leon.

Reigning World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx will start tenth for his home race.

Pos  Driver                Make                 Time              Laps
 1.  Rickard Rydell        SEAT Leon            1:34.493           15
 2.  Peter Terting         SEAT Leon            1:34.625 + 0.132   15
 3.  Robert Huff           Chevrolet Lacetti    1:34.675 + 0.182   14
 4.  Yvan Muller           SEAT Leon            1:34.900 + 0.407   16
 5.  Alain Menu            Chevrolet Lacetti    1:35.080 + 0.587   14
 6.  James Thompson        SEAT Leon            1:35.102 + 0.609   14
 7.  Tom Coronel           SEAT Leon            1:35.130 + 0.637   13
 8.  Gabriele Tarquini     SEAT Leon            1:35.558 + 1.065   14
 9.  Pierre-Yves Corthals  Honda Accord Euro R  1:35.644 + 1.151   15
10.  Andy Priaulx          BMW 320si            1:35.668 + 1.175   15
11.  Dirk Muller           BMW 320si            1:35.708 + 1.215   15
12.  Gianni Morbidelli     Alfa Romeo 156       1:35.772 + 1.279   14
13.  Ryan Sharp            Honda Accord Euro R  1:35.781 + 1.288   15
14.  Nicola Larini         Chevrolet Lacetti    1:35.827 + 1.334   13
15.  Augusto Farfus        Alfa Romeo 156       1:35.869 + 1.376   14
16.  Luca Rangoni          BMW 320si            1:35.901 + 1.408   13
17.  Alessandro Zanardi    BMW 320si            1:36.509 + 2.016   15
18.  Maurizio Ceresoli     SEAT Toledo Cupra    1:36.749 + 2.256   14
19.  Marcel Costa          BMW 320si            1:36.750 + 2.257   16
20.  Jorg Muller           BMW 320si            1:36.770 + 2.277   16
21.  Stefano D'aste        BMW 320i             1:37.047 + 2.554   16
22.  Salvatore Tavano      Alfa Romeo 156       1:37.195 + 2.702   6 
23.  Diego Romanini        BMW 320i             1:38.766 + 4.273   14