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20th May 2006

Qualifying 1

Formula Palmer Audi newcomer Jon Barnes scored a shock pole position for this season's first race at the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit, knocking an otherwise dominant Viktor Jensen off the top spot in the dying moments of the 15-minute qualifying session.

Barnes, the reigning Cosworth Caterham Masters Champion, was among the frontrunners throughout the session, however a final big effort gave him a lap of 1m28.042s and pole position by an astonishing 0.5 of a second.

"It was a second to last lap effort," Barnes said. "I would have been quicker on my last lap but unfortunately I got held up by a slower driver, however pole position was what I wanted so that's good, if a bit surprising in my first time in a single seater.”

"The circuit was still damp at the beginning of the session, but that was good for me because it allowed me to get used to the new slick tyres and build up the pace gradually. Although I am still learning the limits of this car, I knew on that lap that I'd got it all hooked up."

Top Six Results:

Qualifying 2

In the second qualifying session Viktor Jensen set his best lap of 1m25.481s at the conclusion of a tit-for-tat battle with first race pole-winner Jon Barnes, who was unable to hit back at the Icelandic driver thanks to two red flags.

Barnes ended up third, having been pipped to second by fellow newcomer Aaron Steele, but he was more than happy with his day's work. "I had asked for slightly higher tyre pressures for this session, because the track was damp once again. The track dried very quickly and the tyres went off on my fifth lap. I came into the pits to change the pressures back to normal dry settings, but before I had even left the pits the red flags came out, ending the session. I am pleased with how quick I have been today and I really look forward to my first single seater races tomorrow. "

Top Six Results:

ENDS