The Alfa Romeo Racing Team's Brazilian youngster, Augusto Farfus Jr, claimed his first pole position of the FIA World Touring Car Championship season in his Alfa Romeo 156, with just 50 seconds of the qualifying session remaining.

After a long break since the last races took place across the pond in Mexico, the FIA WTCC runners headed for the track at Spa today for two practice sessions before a qualifying session to decide the grid for tomorrow's opening race. Qualifying was shifted to Friday as the races take place tomorrow, due to this round of the FIA GT Championship being a 24 hour encounter which starts late tomorrow afternoon.

PRACTICE 1

James Thompson topped the timesheet in the first practice session that took place on a damp Spa track. The Alfa Romeo driver was among the top three for most of the session but secured the fastest lap of 2:42.451, which was his last. After occupying the top spot on and off, Giovanardi claimed the third fastest lap, 0.418 seconds off his team-mates’ pace. Dirk Müller was the fastest of the BMW driver's and split Thompson and Giovanardi for second by completing a lap in 2:42.594. The fourth best time was Andy Priaulx’s, 0.545 seconds slower than Thompson. Tarquini, García and Farfus completed the Alfa Romeo/BMW top seven.

Peter Terting who was 8th quickest overall headed the SEAT Sport team with a time of 2:44.290. For Chevrolet, Menu and Huff occupied 10th and 11th spots respectively with just 0.005 of a second difference between them. Ford team-mates Klenke and Funke had an encouraging session and completed the 14th and 15th quickest times. Marc Hennerici of Wiechers-Sport was the fastest of the Independent drivers with a time of 2:45.662 which made him 9th quickest overall. Fellow Independent Trophy contender, Tom Coronel did not manage to complete a lap after stopping on the track at Raidillon due to an electrical failure. Alessandro Zanardi’s car was deemed not to be repairable after his accident during testing yesterday and was therefore withdrawn from the event.

PRACTICE 2

Jörg Müller, who had set the fastest time in yesterday’s testing, was again the fastest of the field for the whole of a disrupted second practice session. After 18 minutes, red flags were issued so a kerb could be fixed, but the session resumed for a further 10 minutes. Jörg posted a lap of 2:34.257 in the opening stages of the session and improved his time by 0.169 seconds to remain at the top. Farfus lead the Alfa Romeo team to claim second position with a lap 0.263 seconds slower than Jörg.
 

SEAT Sport’s Plato jumped into the top three as the session was ending by completing a lap in 2:34.705. His team-mate Gené was fifth fastest while Dirk Müller slotted in at fourth – 0.921 slower than his BMW Team Deutschland compatriot. Colciago of JAS Motorsport was 1.321 seconds behind Jörg meaning he claimed 7th position. In tenth position was Rob Huff for Chevrolet and his team-mate Larini was right behind as 11th quickest. Rosenblad was the fastest independent in his Crawford Racing BMW, placed 15th overall. Newcomer Ayari went off at Pouhon skidding on his own oil when his Peugeot’s engine blew.

QUALIFYING

The Brazilian ousted Jörg Müller - who had been at the top of the time sheet for most of the session – by setting a lap of 2:33.158. The Alfa Romeo man will be joined by Andy Priaulx’s BMW on the front row of the grid. The reigning FIA European champion too completed his best lap as the final seconds were counted down; his time was 0.278 off Farfus’s.

Jörg Müller’s best time of 2:33.689 was set within the opening minutes meaning he and team-mate Dirk – who was just 0.112 seconds slower – waited in the pits for the rest of the session. They were demoted from 1st and 2nd to 3rd and 4th after the late surge from the front row occupiers. Jordi Gené was the quickest of the SEAT Sport Team and 5th overall with a time 0.665 of second behind the pole setter. Roberto Colciago repeated the performance he had in the second practice session by achieving the 7th fastest lap in his JAS Motorsport Honda Accord Euro R.

Alain Menu had the best time of the Chevrolet cars with a lap in 2:35.216 which placed him 17th on the grid. Michael Funke and Thomas Klenke struggled to find a competitive pace in their Ford Focus cars and will begin the Race 1 from the back of the grid. As well as Soheil Ayari and his brand new Peugeot 407. Tom Coronel, who was 14th overall will start ahead of his Independent competitors although Stefano D’Aste will be placed directly behind him in 15th spot.