Gordon Shedden scored the Honda Racing Team their third pole position from three qualifying sessions this year by posting the fastest time in qualifying at Thruxton.
The Scotsman followed up teammate Matt Neal's pole positions at Brands Hatch and Donington Park by setting a best time of 1m17.004 around the high-speed Hampshire circuit.
“I'm really pleased with that performance as I needed to give it everything considering how tight it is at the top,” said Shedden. “The high speeds here always make tyre wear a real concern over a race distance, but from the runs we did this morning in practice our tyres looked mint so I think we're in good shape for tomorrow as well.”
Andrew Jordan will line up alongside Shedden on the front row for the first of Sunday's three races after going second quickest in his Pirtek Racing Vauxhall Vectra, just 0.062 seconds behind Shedden. “I'm very happy with that,” said Jordan. “I’ve got a little bit of success ballast in my car, plus it was the first time we'd put a qualifying set-up on the car because we'd concentrated only on race performance in practice. After all it's tomorrow when the points are scored and this has always been a happy hunting ground for the Vectra.”
Neal was unable to continue his pole position run, having to settle for third. A full half a second further back in fourth was Tom Chilton in his Team Aon Ford Focus, just ahead of Jason Plato of Silverline Chevrolet.
Tom Onslow-Cole was an impressive sixth in the AmD Milltek Racing VW Golf, while Jeff Smith followed up his good weekend in Donington by qualifying seventh. Mat Jackson was eighth, with Tom Boardman ninth.
James Nash, who took the lead of the championship at Donington Park, was a lowly tenth in his 888 Racing with Collins Contractors Vectra. “I made a mess of what would have been my best lap but even if I'd made it count it might have only gained me a few places,” said Nash. “On saying that, in race trim I think we'll be quite a bit stronger than some of those starting in front of us.”
Qualifying session times:
| Pos | Driver | Team | Car | Time | Gap |
| 1 | Gordon Shedden | Honda Racing Team | Honda Civic | 1m17.004s | — |
| 2 | Andrew Jordan | Pirtek Racing | Vauxhall Vectra | 1m17.066s | +0.062s |
| 3 | Matt Neal | Honda Racing Team | Honda Civic | 1m17.217s | +0.213s |
| 4 | Tom Chilton | Team Aon | Global Ford Focus | 1m17.759s | +0.759s |
| 5 | Jason Plato | Silverline Chevrolet | Chevrolet Cruze | 1m17.966s | +0.966s |
| 6 | Tom Onslow-Cole | AmD Milltek Racing | VW Golf MK5 | 1m18.122s | +1.118s |
| 7 | Jeff Smith | Pirtek Racing | Vauxhall Vectra | 1m18.249s | +1.245s |
| 8 | Mat Jackson | Airwaves Racing | Ford Focus ST | 1m18.325s | +1.321s |
| 9 | Tom Boardman | Special Tuning Racing | SEAT Leon | 1m18.327s | +1.323s |
| 10 | James Nash | 888 with Collins Contractors | Vauxhall Vectra | 1m18.341s | +1.337s |
| 11 | Alex MacDowall | Silverline Chevrolet | Chevrolet Cruze | 1m18.640s | +1.636s |
| 12 | Tony Gilham | 888 with Collins Contractors | Vauxhall Vectra | 1m18.787s | +1.783s |
| 13 | Paul O’Neill | GoMobileUK.com/Tech-Speed | Chevrolet Cruze | 1m18.990s | +1.986s |
| 14 | Robert Collard | WSR | BMW 320si E90 | 1m19.079s | +2.075s |
| 15 | Andy Neate | Team Aon | Global Ford Focus | 1m19.131s | +2.127s |
| 16 | Liam Griffin | Airwaves Racing | Ford Focus ST | 1m19.906s | +2.902s |
| 17 | Nick Foster | WSR | BMW 320si E90 | 1m20.960s | +3.956s |
| 18 | John George | GoMobileUK.com/Tech-Speed | Chevrolet Cruze | 1m21.088 | +4.084s |
| 19 | Frank Wrathall | Dynojet | Toyota Avensis | 1m21.655s | +4.651s |
| 20 | Rob Austin | Rob Austin Racing | Audi A4 | 1m22.072s | +5.068s |
| 21 | Chris James | Team ES Racing | Chevrolet Lacetti | 1m23.301s | +6.297s |
