Nordic dominates in Spain.

The Coca-Cola Nordic Racing team dominated the qualifying sessions for the third round of the FIA F3000 International Championship at the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain yesterday [Friday].

Nordic drivers Justin Wilson and Tomas Enge gave the team its maiden front-row lockdown, with Briton Wilson claiming his first F3000 pole and Czech Enge taking second. The two times were set at opposite ends of the two qualifying sessions, with Wilson holding on to top spot almost throughout and Enge coming close to snatching it away right at the end.

Wilson grabbed the pole position from the opening lap of the first session and, such was his performance, that he held it with ease for both 45min periods. At the end of the second session the only driver that looked capable of equalling his time was Enge, who claimed second place on the grid, a mere 0.022secs behind.

"I knew that I had to take pole here if I was to keep my championship hopes alive," Wilson said, "After Imola, where I finished sixth, I knew that the very least I could do today would be to take the pole. Now I must aim to make the most of my grid position in the race tomorrow and convert that pole into a race win, with the ten championship points that go with it. The car felt great all through both sessions, although we did make some small changes in order to cope with the bumpy circuit and I am looking forward to giving Coca-Cola a one-two race win to go with today's qualifying result."

"This has been a good days work by both Justin and Tomas, and it is a great shame that only one can take pole as they both deserved it today," commented team manager Chris Mower, "We knew that this kind of result would be possible here as long as the drivers made the most of their tyres from the word go. Justin did as we planned as our data showed that last year the tyres were at their best early in the session and with very similar weather conditions as last year, everything went as we had hoped today."

Enge finished the second qualifying session as fastest driver, with the combined times giving him second on the grid.

"The car was very good today, and it is a great tribute to the Coca-Cola Nordic Racing team that Justin and I were able to secure a one-two in qualifying," the Czech driver said, "My car was feeling better and better as the session wore on and I am pretty confident that I could have been challenging Justin for the pole had we not run out of time. Still, it is great to be starting from the front of the grid tomorrow and I am sure that both Justin and I will provide a very exciting race to watch."

"Tomas gave a great performance in the second session, posting a remarkable time," Mower added, "For the race tomorrow we expect to see some exciting driving, as both Justin and Tomas are aware that the driver who leads at the first corner will have the race won. Whatever happens at the start, I expect to see both our drivers on the podium at the end of the race tomorrow, hopefully retaining their first and second places."