SEAT Sport have secured the whole front row for tomorrow’s Race 1. Gabriele Tarquini was the fastest man after setting a 1:49.306 which is a new S2000 lap record for the French track.

Alongside him when the lights go out will be team-mate Rickard Rydell who stole second position from BMW Team Germany"s Jörg Müller on his very last lap and by the tiny margin of just 0.001 seconds.

Jörg, who set the previous lap record in 2004 not only has SEATs in front of him, but alongside and behind. Jordi Gené set a time of 1:49.798 placing in 4th on the grid while Peter Terting will line up 5th.

Dirk Müller of BMW Team Germany and Alessandro Zanardi of BMW Team Italy-Spain qualified 6th and 7th respectively while reigning champion Priaulx will begin Race 1 from position nine.

Continuing his presence among the works drivers was GR Asia man Tom Coronel. His time of 1:50.053 was the fastest of the independents and 8th best of the entire field. Drivers' championship leader, Yvan Muller completed the 12th quickest lap in his SEAT León.

The N.technology team were headed by Salvatore Tavano who achieved a lap in 1:50.795 placing him 19th. Farfus and Morbidelli occupy 22nd and 23rd respectively, the former spinning into the gravel trap at the Grande Courbe in the final minutes of the session.

Naspetti of GDL Racing (provisionally qualified 17th) and Marchetti of DB Motorsport (provisionally qualified 27th) will be dropped 10 places on the grid due to engine changes.