Alvaro Parente needed just two sessions to get acquainted with ScuderiaColoni. The Portuguese driver, in his debut race with the Italian outfit, clinchedan excellent fifth place in qualifying after a great fight with Bianchi, Valsecchi,Villa, Filippi and Turvey. Alvaro was even third at half session and slipped tofifth in the last minutes but his laptime, 1’43”714, is just two tenths adrift fromthe pole position, giving him and the team big hopes for tomorrow.

This great qualifying was the reward for a perfect weekend start, with thePortuguese driver already tenth in the free practice session after a verycautious approach, concentrated more on getting in tune with the team thanon raw performance.

Qualifying was less lucky for Will Bratt, 20th with 1’45”320. The brit hadshowed a good pace in the morning practice, something that should be the keyfor a good recovery in tomorrow’s first race.

Paolo Coloni: “I’m very happy about Alvaro’s performance. For him it was thefirst time with the team, but he was immediately consistent, and the laptimehe did in qualifying is really close to the pole position, we couldn’t ask formore. I’m sorry for Bratt, who had a really good pace in the practice. Anyway,tomorrow’s race will be long, anything can happen”.