While Alex Müller worked on the car's performance, Miguel Ramos did a long run to check the consistency of the tyres on the Hungarian track. The fourth best time went to Bertolini/Bartels (1:43.248) who, as usual, used the session to work on the car's race set up.

The reigning champions ran 35 laps, the same as the Italian pair of Bobbi/Pier Guidi who ended pre-qualifying with the fifth best time (1:43.623). Light rain began to fall some forty minutes from the chequered flag. This meant that the lap times slowed but the track surface did not become too wet or slippery, so much so that a few drivers actually bettered their times as the session came to a close.

The eagerly awaited qualifying session will be held in the late afternoon. The outcome will be crucial as it is very hard to overtake at the Hungaroring.

There is a chance of rain during the race, a change from yesterday’s sun. The clouds have now settled over the circuit and, though temperatures have dropped, it is still clammy because of the high humidity levels.

Turning to the track action, debut duo Bobbi/Pier Guidi, in the No.33 MC12, did brilliantly to set the third best time overall (1:44.405) as they lapped consistently well. The pair ran 34 laps and made four pit stops to tweak the car’s set up.

Reigning champions Andrea Bertolini and Michael Bartels stopped the clock at 1:44.799 on the fastest of their 31 laps.

Müller/Ramos’ No.2 MC12 finished seventh quickest in the eighty minute session with a time of 1:45.055. The Portuguese-German outfit covered 33 laps and came in six times to work on the balance of their Maserati.

The session’s best time went to the Saleen S7 driven by Wendlinger/Sharp (1:42.944).