Farfus's 1:32.794 shattered the track record for Super 2000 cars by two-and-a-half tenths of a second to claim his second pole of the season after Pau.

Menu was only 0.002 seconds behind him in second.

The home fans had something to cheer as Chevrolet driver Robert Huff took third position in an extremely closely fought session. Reigning world champion Andy Priaulx put his BMW Team UK car into fourth to make up an all-British second row for the first race.

Joerg Mueller popped his BMW onto the third row with the fastest SEAT Sport driver, Yvan Muller, in sixth. The third Chevrolet of Nicola Larini took seventh position with Alessandro Zanardi behind him in eighth.

SUNRED Engineering's Tom Coronel was in ninth despite running wide into the gravel on one of his quick laps. Newcomer Volvo driver Robert Dahlgren continued his successful apprenticeship to round off the top 10.

After his nightmare weekend in Portugal, the third British driver, James Thompson, qualified 13th in his Honda Accord. Championship leader Gabriele Tarquini only managed to qualify in 18th position as he was forced to abort his fastest lap after going wide and throwing up some gravel.

Sergio Hernandez took pole position for the Independents' trophy, and 12th overall, beating Pierre-Yves Corthals.

Hernandez's team-mate Stefano D'Aste continued having problems in staying on the track and twice went wide on the final corner.

Aytac Biter had another spin but managed to rejoin the track, unlike Felix Porteiro who embedded his BMW into the tyre barrier on the final lap at turn 1.

Watch live coverage of WTCC on your PC via the Eurosport player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe.

Or watch the action on British Eurosport - available in the UK on Sky channel 410 and Virgin Media channel 521 or British Eurosport 2 - available on Sky 411 and Virgin Media 525