Super Nova International - Jose Maria Lopez Pole Fairuz Fauzy 23rd

Returning after a month long break from racing, the GP2 Series prepared in hot conditions at Circuit Nevers Magny-Cours for the seventh round. Fresh from a successful two-day test in Paul Ricard, where Jose was quickest driver, the Super Nova team were optimistic! Free practice this morning went well, followed by an even better qualifying session for the 23 year old Argentinean driver Jose Maria Lopez, who set a time of 1:23.911 on his first lap, and remained quickest for the entire 30 minutes. For this he claimed 2 points & qualified pole for Saturdays race.

Team mate Fairuz Fauzy tried several set up's and ran a total of 12 laps but unfortunately experienced some difficulties with the brakes & could not make a fast lap to improve on his 23rd qualifying position. Timo Glock was 0.120sconds off Super Nova's No. 5 car qualifying 2nd with Giorgio Pantano in 3rd position on the grid for tomorrows 4pm race.

Team Principal - David Sears: "Jose Maria Lopez continued to impress everyone with his stunning pole position in qualifying here in Magny Cours. Full of confidence after being quickest in the recent two-day test in France Jose has overcome the problems that he had in the past couple of races.

Fairuz Fauzy ended up in 23rd position 2 seconds slower than his team mate, complaining that he had a long brake pedal, and not happy with the car balance. However Fairuz race performance is usually far better than his qualifying, & Super Nova team hope that he can get a reasonable result in the race tomorrow."

Jose Maria Lopez: "I came here positive after a great testing session in Paul Ricard, and I'm really, really pleased with today's qualifying result! It's just the beginning as we have the race to complete but I think it will be an exciting one, and a podium win which is my aim, would be fantastic!"

Fairuz Fauzy: "I'm obviously disappointed with my grid position, especially because the car was good except for some braking problems I had very early in the session. I could never get a fast lap together as I kept locking or losing my brakes. I'm sure the team will fix this for tomorrows race. I'm looking forward to a strong start with the aim to finish in the top 10 for Sunday's race."

Piquet Sports- Nelson Piquet Jr 5th

Nelson Piquet Jr narrowly missed out on pole position today in the qualifying session for the French GP2 feature race at Magny Cours. He did however provide some interesting viewing for the spectators in an otherwise event-free session, when his car flew through the air after he lifted off from a kerb while pushing hard on his last lap. He will now line up on the third row of the grid for tomorrow's race after finishing up fifth
fastest.

The 20-year-old Brazilian continued the good form he left in mid-season testing when he finished third quickest in this morning's free practice session. His performance continued well in the qualifying session, with him sitting in fourth position and just a few minutes remaining. On his final fast lap, he got off to a fantastic start, setting a storming first sector and very fast second sector. On another stormer in the final sector, heading for a sure pole position, he rode one of the kerbs, which saw all four wheels of the car lift off the ground, and Nelson landing back on the track where he continued his lap. It was great for the spectators, but unfortunately lost Nelson vital tenths, which meant he did not improve on his position. In the dying seconds, Lewis Hamilton managed to improve on his place in the lower half of the top ten, just pipping Nelson to fourth place.

It was an extremely competitive session, with the top five drivers separated by just two tenths of a second, and the grid line-up looks set to provide some exciting racing in tomorrow's 41-lap race.

Nelson Piquet Jr: Ah! I'm so frustrated, that should have been pole. I was pushing so hard so I'm a little annoyed with myself, but so far this weekend our car has been good. We know we got the set-up right today for practice and qualifying, and now we have to make sure we get it right for the race tomorrow. It looks like a good grid, and with me and Lewis next to each other at the start again, I'm sure it's going to be another fun race.

Racing Engineering - Adam Carroll 6th Javier Villa 22nd

Adam Carroll proved that all of the hard work put in by the Racing Engineering mechanics and engineers at the recent test in Paul Ricard had paid off by claiming the fastest time in this morning's free practice session, but unfortunately traffic on his first flying lap in qualifying probably cost the team a front row start for tomorrow's race one at Magny Cours.

With conditions at their best on the opening laps of the session because of the Formula One rubber on track, Adam pushed hard in the scorching conditions to maximise his opportunities, but a wayward Clivio Piccione ran off track before returning just in front of the Ulsterman, who lost more than two tenths trying to avoid him.

Further back Javier Villa was in the unusual position of having raced at the track before the weekend, and put his experience to good use in free practice. Unfortunately he made a mistake at the second chicane in qualifying on his first lap, jumping the kerb and losing a lot of time in the process. Despite the problems Adam lines up in sixth place tomorrow, a little over three tenths behind poleman Jose Maria Lopez, while Javi will start from 22nd.