By BMW SauberF1 Team
September 30 2006

In a wet qualifying session for the Chinese Grand Prix, BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld again proved the BMW Sauber F1.06's competitiveness by securing top-ten grid positions. Conditions were difficult at the "Shanghai International Circuit".

Leg 1: In the first leg of the wet qualifying session for the Chinese Grand Prix - which was temporarily red-flagged with 3:09 minutes remaining, due to the stranded Spyker of Tiago Monteiro - Nick and Robert had no problems whatsoever in qualifying for leg two. Both drivers completed eight laps, improved consistently and set lap times of 1:46.049 minutes (Robert) and 1:46.249 minutes (Nick) minutes to finish eighth and tenth respectively.

Not qualified for leg two: Ralf Schumacher, Jarno Trulli, Christijan Albers, Tiago Monteiro, Takuma Sato, Sakon Yamamoto.

Leg 2: The second leg of the qualifying session for the Chinese Grand Prix turned out to be one of the most thrilling legs of the entire 2006 season. Both Nick and Robert completed nine laps as they battled their way into the top ten again and again, improving lap by lap. Nick (1:45.055 Minutes) secured fourth position, with Robert (1:45.576 minutes) finishing seventh, thus also making it to the top qualifying in the very closing seconds of the session.

Not qualified for top qualifying: Scott Speed, David Coulthard, Felipe Massa, Vitantonio Liuzzi, Mark Webber, Nico Rosberg.

Top Qualifying: In top qualifying, which, as the rain had stopped, was held on a drying track, Nick (1:46.053 minutes) secured eighth grid position, with Robert (1:46.632 minutes) finishing ninth. While the Pole set his fastest lap on his first timed lap following his tyre change, Nick set three consecutive fast laps and improved lap by lap - from 1:46.218 minutes through 1:46.206 minutes to his personal fastest lap. Pole position was secured by Renault's Fernando Alonso who will share row one with his team-mate, Giancarlo Fisichella.

Result: 1st Fernando Alonso, 2nd Giancarlo Fisichella, 3rd Rubens Barrichello, 4th Jenson Button, 5th Kimi Räikkönen, 6th Michael Schumacher, 7th Pedro de la Rosa, 8th Nick Heidfeld, 9th Robert Kubica, 10th Robert Doornbos.