Christian Mansell posted the first competitive time of the session as he logged a 1:45:839. However, a 1:45.475 put Noel León over three tenths clear seconds later.
Dunne, Mini, Goethe, Fornaroli, Mansell, Esterson, Van Hoepen, Lindblad, Tramnitz, Montoya and Browning completed the top 12 after 10 minutes. The Irish driver had been over 0.2s quicker after the middle sector but lost three tenths to the Mexican in the final part of the lap.
The predicted rain started to fall gently, especially in the last sector.
León, Dunne (0.070s), Mini, Goethe, Esterson, Fornaroli, Van Hoepen, Montoya, Mansell, Lindblad, Zagazeta and Tramnitz was the top 12 as some managed to improve, particularly in the middle sector.
Browning (P13) and Beganovic (P30) lost lap times.
The rain then started to get heavier over the whole lap and it was impossible to improve until the final couple of minutes.
Incrediblely, the drivers managed to improve despite it looking tricky.
A 1:44.992 from Luke Browning saw the home hero take a sensational pole by 0.045s from Max Esterson. Meguetounif, Fornaroli, Van Hoepen, Wurz, Mansell, Tsolov, Voisin, Zagazeta, Lindblad and León completed the top 12.
León, Dunne and Mini all dropped 11 places at the end as they were not put on track when it improved at the end.
Beganovic managed to save his day somewhat. He’ll start P19 for both races.
