Thompson claims pole at Valencia

Thompson had failed to score in the opening two rounds of the WTCC at Curitiba and Zandvoort, but despite a severely restricted test programme for the Alfa Romeo 156 he was able to return to form with his second WTCC pole.

"A lot of credit has to go to the team, they've worked exceptionally hard," said Thompson. "We've made a lot of changes to the car after effectively testing during the first two meetings of the year, and this is just desserts for the team.

"I don't see any reason why we can't win the first race tomorrow if we lead it, so from that point of view the rolling start is good for us. I've got nothing to lose. I've scored no points this season and I want to win. I'm not interested in finishing second or third!"

Muller proved unable to improve on his first qualifying run and was forced to abort his second and third runs. He will start ahead of defending champion Andy Priaulx, who leaped up to third in the closing seconds in his BMW Team UK BMW 320si despite carrying 45kg of success ballast.

Former Champ Car racer Michel Jourdain put in the best performance of his WTCC career with fifth for SEAT, one place ahead of Nicola Larini.

Larini was best of the Chevrolet Lacettis despite carrying 25kg ballast, after strong results last time out at Zandvoort.

Championship leader Augusto Farfus, carrying 50kg of ballast in his Schnitzer Motorsport-run BMW 320si, will start seventh, ahead of the Chevrolets of Alain Menu and Rob Huff.

Roberto Colciago took his second successive independents' class pole for SEAT Italia ahead of works pairing Gabriele Tarquini, carrying 45kg of ballast after winning at Zandvoort, and Tiago Monteiro.

Luca Rangoni was second best of the indies, five places behind Colciago, in his Proteam Motorsport-run BMW.

Pos  Driver            Make        Time
 1.  James Thompson    Alfa Romeo  1:43.954
 2.  Yvan Muller       SEAT        1:43.955 + 0.00
 3.  Andy Priaulx      BMW         1:44.114 + 0.16
 4.  Jordi Gene        SEAT        1:44.228 + 0.27
 5.  M.Jourdain Jr.    SEAT        1:44.234 + 0.28
 6.  Nicola Larini     Chevrolet   1:44.261 + 0.31
 7.  Augusto Farfus    BMW         1:44.265 + 0.31
 8.  Alain Menu        Chevrolet   1:44.280 + 0.33
 9.  Robert Huff       Chevrolet   1:44.319 + 0.37
10.  Roberto Colciago  SEAT        1:44.352 + 0.40
11.  G.Tarquini        SEAT        1:44.430 + 0.48
12.  Tiago Monteiro    SEAT        1:44.460 + 0.51
13.  Felix Porteiro    BMW         1:44.503 + 0.55
14.  Jorg Muller       BMW         1:44.576 + 0.62
15.  Luca Rangoni      BMW         1:44.581 + 0.63
16.  Sergio Hernandez  BMW         1:44.595 + 0.64
17.  Tom Coronel       SEAT        1:44.627 + 0.67
18.  A.Zanardi         BMW         1:44.705 + 0.75
19.  P-Y.Corthals      SEAT        1:44.925 + 0.97
20.  O.Tielemans       Alfa Romeo  1:45.076 + 1.12
21.  Stefano D'Aste    BMW         1:45.167 + 1.21
22.  M.Ceresoli        SEAT        1:45.629 + 1.68
23.  Maria de Villota  Chevrolet   1:46.808 + 2.85
24.  Miguel Freitas    Alfa Romeo  1:47.501 + 3.55
25.  V.Shapovalov      BMW         1:48.413 + 4.46
26.  M.Pedala          SEAT        No time