The defending champion posted a best time of 1 minute 42.228 seconds to edge out SEAT's Gabriele Tarquini at the top of the timesheets.

Muller set the benchmark at the start of the second segment of the qualifying session with a time of 1:42.352.

He was the only driver to improve on the second runs as he shaved over a tenth off the top time.

Tarquini's bid to dislodge the Frenchman ended when he made a mistake on his last attempt and sent his car into the gravel.

Tom Coronel was third for ROAL BMW, while Britain's Rob Huff will start fifth, the Chevrolet driver finding himself 0.033s behind impressive Spanish teenager Pepe Oriola in his privateer SEAT.

Stefano D'Aste (BMW) qualified 10th and therefore will take pole position on the partially reversed grid for Sunday's second race.