Tech 1 Racing's Charles Pic won the Superpole at Silverstone on Saturday, ahead of the latest round of the 2009 World Series by Renault.

Pic grabbed top spot late on, when he posted a best time of 1 minute 33.073 seconds. It was the Frenchman's second pole of the season.

"I needed this pole position and the team overall needed a good performance," said Pic, who had been fifth in Group B qualifying.

"The strategy is right, the car is going very well. We need to turn our good form into good results in the races this weekend."

James Walker meanwhile had to settle for second, even though it appeared he had pole in the bag until being knocked down late on.

"I couldn't do better," said Walker, who had been quickest in his group qualifying session. "I'm really disappointed not to be on pole. I need to work hard for the race now!"

Brendon Hartley was next up and third to round off an impressive performance by Tech 1 Racing - 0.353 seconds off his team-mate and the pole, and 0.306 seconds off P2. Hartley had been on it in the Group B qualifying and set the standard, but he was unable to repeat that feat in the Superpole.

Oliver Turvey, who was the first runner to put in a fast time in the Superpole, ended up fourth for Carlin, followed by Mofaz Fortec's Fairuz Fauzy and Daniil Move.

Joint championship leaders Marcos Martinez and Bertrand Baguette were seventh and eighth - and the latter will of course now consequently start from the front for the reverse grid sprint race.

Adrian Valles, Marco Barba and Greg Mansell came in tenth, eleventh and twelfth, the latter breaking into the top-12 Superpole in his USR machine for the first time this year.