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The final race of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup promises action to the end. Konrad Motorsport pilot Nicholas Tandy from Great Britain secured pole position turning a new record lap during qualifying for the race on Sunday, and with this was 0.134 seconds faster than points' leader René Rast from Germany (Al Faisal Lechner Racing). The two title favourites take up the race alongside each other. With 32 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in Monza, the world's fastest international brand trophy series has the biggest grid line up this season.

Initially on the 5.770 kilometre Grand Prix circuit, it was local hero Alessandro Balzan (Team Ebimotors) who made the most of his home advantage. The guest driver from the Porsche Carrera Cup Italia had held the top time right up until two minutes before the end of the qualifying session. First it was René Rast who undercut his time, followed by Nicholas Tandy who nudged the Italian off his pole position perch and earned himself an extra two points towards the title fight. With an average of 187,896 km/h, his last lap was also the fastest in Supercup history. The old record time had also been set in Monza in 2006 by Richard Lietz from Austria with a time of 186.770 km/h.

Behind the favourites for the championship, Alessandro Balzan occupied third place ahead of the Dutch title defender Jeroen Bleekemolen (Al Faisal Lechner Racing). Taking off from row three is Britain's Sean Edwards (Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit), winner of the previous race in Spa, as well as Barcelona victor Norbert Siedler (VELTINS MRS Racing) from Austria. Behind them are two Dutchmen: Jaap van Lagen (Team Bleekemolen Harders Plaza) drove the seventh quickest time, with Supercup record winner Patrick Huisman (Konrad Motorsport) on the eighth spot. The top ten on the grid for the 14-lap race on the classic Grand Prix circuit is rounded off by Jan Seyffarth (VELTINS MRS Racing) from Germany and the guest driver from France, Nicolas Armindo (Lechner Racing), who currently leads the points in the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland.

The young "Porsche Motorsport Talent" from New Zealand, Jono Lester made a strong impression at his Supercup premiere. As guest driver, he snatched the 20th spot out of a 32-strong field at the wheel of the VIP-Porsche 911 GT3 Cup fielded by Porsche AG.

Nicholas Tandy (pole-sitter): "A fabulous qualifying. Super track, super weather, super car - what more can you ask for? We did what we could, grabbed the pole and earned two extra points. My team and I will also be doing our very best in the race and let's see what comes out of that. It would be wonderful if it was the title."

René Rast (second in qualifying): "The first grid row is an ideal starting position for the race, especially when my teammate is covering my back right behind me. Of course, tactic plays a huge role tomorrow. I'm not going to start calculating things now. I simply have to try not to make a mistake and finish well. Then, nobody can take the title from me."

Alessandro Balzan (third in qualifying): "I have the best place on the grid, because Nick and René will be going at it hard in front of me. I'll be able to watch quietly and patiently to see what I can do. I'm only two-tenths shy. Had I not made an error in braking with my second set of tyres I would certainly have been closer. I'm looking forward to the race tomorrow."

Qualifying result
1. Nicholas Tandy (GB), Konrad Motorsport, 1:50.991 minutes
2. René Rast (D), Al Faisal Lechner Racing, + 0.134 seconds
3. Alessandro Balzan (I), Team Ebimotors, + 0.177
4. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), Al Faisal Lechner Racing, + 0.232
5. Sean Edwards (GB), Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit, + 0.377
6. Norbert Siedler (A), VELTINS MRS Racing, + 0.448