As in GT1, the battle carried on to the chequered flag and beyond, with the Ferrari and the Prospeed Porsche swapping fastest times.

“I did the fastest lap, then heard on the radio that Russo was quicker,” Westbrook commented. “I went fastest again, and again Russo went faster. But he did a super job and I think I was not able to go any quicker.”

Russo was understandably delighted with his first pole.

“I'm proud to be on pole in my own country, my first pole ever in GT2,” he said. “We have learned a lot this season and this is such a great result for the team.”

With Westbrook classified second, Tim Mullen was third in the #55 CR Scuderia Ferrari, ahead of the second Prospeed Porsche, in the hands of Markus Palttala, the Finn's best qualifying of the season. Andrew Kirkaldy was fifth, ahead of Niki Cadei in the Kessel Ferrari.

The GT2 category had already been reduced by one due to the Trackspeed Porsche's crash in practice; during qualifying it was the turn of the #50 AF Corse Ferrari to clip the wall on its first lap out, failing to qualify. However, it will be allowed to start from the back of tomorrow's grid.

The sole G2 competitor this weekend, the Belgian Racing Gillet Vertigo, qualified 17th overall.