Karl Wendlinger and Ryan Sharp will join the Saleen trio on the second row in their Jetalliance Racing-run Aston Martin, less than a tenth further back, while Mike Hezemans and Fabrizio Gollin had to settle for P5 in the #6 Phoenix Corvette, around half a second off their team-mates.
Wendlinger however, reckoned he could have been higher up the order had he not had to slow on his quick lap when his team-mate spun: "I'm very pleased with qualifying because now we know that we're not only quick in the dry but also on a wet track. It's just a shame that my team-mate spun right in front of me just as I was turning my fastest lap, forcing me to break and costing me plenty of time," he explained.
Further down the order Philipp Peter and Allan Simonsen were sixth, seven tenths up on Andrew Kirkaldy and Rob Bell, who were next up and top in the GT2 class in their
Ferrari 430.
Racing for new team CR Scuderia, Kirkaldy set a time of 1m 56.632s, to ensure he took his eleventh pole since 2006 and his third in a row at
Silverstone.
"This beginning is fantastic for the team. We've worked hard to get a new team together, and it's been good to get behind the wheel instead of behind a desk. It's great for the guys, everyone's worked tirelessly over the winter," he stated.
Richard Westbrook's #61 Prospeed Competition Porsche had been top in the GT2 class until Kirkaldy's quick lap. Racing in the
FIA GT Championship for the first time though, Westbrook was still pleased with his car and will now start second in the class and tenth overall.
"The Porsche handled great in these conditions and it was a joy to drive," noted ex-PCCGB man.
To see the qualifying times in full
click here.
