DAMS - Jerome d'Ambrosio (Pole) Kamui Kobayashi (4th)

Jerome d'Ambrosio will start tomorrow's long race from pole position in the fifth round of the Asian GP2 Series Championship on the Sepang circuit, which is hosting the 2009 Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix. The Belgian driver drove an almost perfect lap that none of his 25 rivals were able to beat. He scored 2 points, bringing his total to twenty-three, and putting him near Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez. DAMS's total goes up to sixty-two extending its lead over its nearest rival to 18 points.

Kamui Kobayashi will start from the second row of the grid. After setting the quickest time in free practice, he was baulked by a slower rival in the final corner on his fastest lap, giving him the fourth-quickest time.

These results point to a front-running performance for the team whose aim is clear: both drivers on the rostrum.

Eric Boullier, team manager: "Today's result is an excellent one and I'd like to congratulate Jerome for the exceptio nal job he's done. The conditions are difficult at Sepang as it's very hot, and the race is going to be a tough one. We'll do our best to take advantage of the slightest opportunity to put our two drivers on the rostrum. Given our positions in both classifications we're aiming for the drivers' and constructors' titles. Bravo to the whole team!"

Jerome d'Ambrosio: "I'm really delighted with my pole position, and I'd like to thank the whole team for giving me a perfect car today. The balance is good and tyre wear isn't a problem so I've got everything I need to fight for victory - and that's my aim!"

Kamui Kobayashi: "I'm a little disappointed as with my set of new tyres I had to go off line to avoid another car: it took me two laps to clean them. I crossed the finishing line two seconds before the end of the session and unfortunately, I c ame upon a slower driver under braking for the last corner. I lost around three-tenths and that put paid to my chances of a position on the front row. I'll do my very best to gain places tomorrow. I'd like to congratulate Jerome for his performance today. Well done, lad!"

Super Nova Racing - James Jakes (3rd) Javier Villa (5th)

Despite a light spot of rain just minutes before the start of the session, with a track temperature of 43 degrees it was very soon dry and both Super Nova drivers did fantastically and qualified 3rd and 5th.

James started the session on used tyres, which enabled the team to choose exactly the right time to put both drivers out on new tyres. James did a solid run on his first set of tyres, which placed him in 6th position. His feeling with the car was good and he didn't need any changes for the second set of tyres and improved to 3rd place.

Javier started the session on new tyres but unfortunately did not get a clear lap and was only 9th position when he came to the pits for the second set of tyres. With only a very small setup change, he was able to climb to P4, which he only lost on the very last lap of qualifying to Kobayashi, therefore finishing in P5.

James Jakes: "We started the session on a used set of slicks to solve the problem we had with the brakes in practice. I was able to get a good feel of the circuit with this in preparation for the new tyres. The car balance was very good on both sets of tyres. I think we could have been on pole if I could of managed to out my laps together."

Javier Villa: "It was a difficult qualifying, 5 minutes before the session began it started raining so we waited a little bit to see all the other drivers on the track and we started with new tyres. We were one of the first people on the second set of tyres because we didn't know if would rain again. We were P5 and two tenths of a second behind pole. I think that we did a very good job. This is a good starting point for pushing to win the race."

Team Principal David Sears: "A fantastic result considering both James and Javi have not been to Sepang before. I hope both our drivers can have a good race and both push for a podium finish."

MY Qi-Meritus Mahara - Alvaro Parente (10th) Marco Bonanomi (22nd)

Six weeks after racing in the unusual Doha night scenery at the Losail track, My Qi-Meritus.Mahara competed today at their home Malaysian circuit of Sepang.

The Friday morning free session brought Alvaro Parente the sixth fastest time of 1.46.912 after six laps despite flat spotting the front left tyre under heavy braking, while Marco Bonanomi suffered from problems with his throttle which prevented him completing even a recce lap.

Qualifying remained dry despite threats of rain and saw Parente take 10th place with 1 min 45.816 and Bonanomi 22nd with 1.46.315.

Parente said: "I expected better, but at the end everything went well. The free practice session was a bit short because I had to flat-spot a tyre braking very hard after someone spun suddenly in front of me. We worked on some details to adapt the car for the qualifying session. I was eighth fastest with 1.46.030 after six laps and improved that to 1.45.816 to finish 10th on the grid for tomorrow's race."