Félix Porteiro takes Brno pole

In a session that was decided in the very last seconds, Félix Porteiro secured his and BMW Team Italy-Spain’s first pole. The young Spaniard clocked a 2:11.584 on his last lap which was three tenths faster than the rest. In fact, all the BMW drivers waited until the dying seconds before mounting their attacks. Five BMWs will line up in the top six tomorrow.

Andy Priaulx will start alongside Porteiro with a qualifying time of 2:11.949 making him second best; Jörg Müller (2:12.042) follows and Alex Zanardi (2:12.145) makes it an all BMW front two rows.

Jordi Gené looked to have secured the first pole to SEAT when he set a 2:12.376 with thirteen minutes remaining. He then returned to the pits and had to watch as the events that unfolded eventually demoted him to fifth.

Augusto Farfus qualified sixth with a time of 2:12.406, completing the BMW domination, while independent driver Pierre-Yves Corthals set a stunning 2:12.607 for Exagon Racing placing himself seventh on the grid. Alain Menu of Chevrolet split Corthals and his close Independents’ Trophy rival Luca Rangoni.

Gabriele Tarquini rounded of the top ten by achieving a time of 2:12.837. The N.technology Alfa Romeo team got their best time courtesy of James Thompson’s 2:13.101 which mean he will line up fourteenth on the grid.

The only casualties of the session were Davide Roda who went off into the gravel at turn 5 and Emmet O’Brien who did the same at turn 11 at the end of the session.