RUSSIAN TIME's Sam Bird on GP2 pole at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium

This was the first competitive session in which the drivers had run the new Kevlar-belted tyres - bringing the Series in line with Formula 1 - but despite the rubber warming up differently, everyone stuck to the traditional two-laps to warm their tyres.

Fabio Leimer and James Calado set the initial pace, before Bird's first effort saw him become the first man to dip into the 1:56s. As it turned out the RUSSIAN TIME driver could have remained in the pits and saved a set of tyres as no-one was able to get close to his times on their second runs.

Drivers' Championship leader Stefano Coletti's run of bad luck continued as he posted the 20th fastest time - some 1.6 seconds slower than Bird.

The Monegasque driver has finished in the points just once in the past six races and has a difficult task to salvage anything from his visit to Spa-Francorchamps. He can at least take solace, however, from the fact that his nearest rival Felipe Nasr was only tenth quickest for Carlin.

Britain's Adrian Quaife-Hobbs will feel the wrath of his competitors - and perhaps the stewards as well - after he limped around the track with a loose wheel in the closing stages forcing many drivers to slow on hot-laps. The Hilmer driver did eventually make it back to the pits and got one flying lap at the end of the session, but could not improve on 19th.

GP2 Qualifying - Belgium
1) Sam Bird (GBR) - RUSSIAN TIME - 1:56.957
2) Fabio Leimer (SWI) - Racing Engineering - +0.199
3) James Calado (GBR) - ART Grand Prix - +0.447
4) Marcus Ericsson (SWE) - DAMS - +0.581
5) Alexander Rossi (USA) - Caterham Racing - +0.621
6) Nathanael Berthon (FRA) - Trident - +0.631
7) Jolyon Palmer (GBR) - Carlin - +0.734
8) Stephane Richelmi (MON) - DAMS - +0.845
9) Sergio Canamasas (ESP) - Caterham Racing - +0.847
10) Felipe Nasr (BRA) - Carlin - +0.882

Selected others
19) Adrian Quaife-Hobbs (GBR) - Hilmer Motorsport - +1.577
20) Stefano COletti (MON) - Rapax - +1.661