Arthur Pic gave DAMS pole position for its Formula Renault 3.5 debut as he came out on top of the first qualifying session of the weekend at Aragon.
The Frenchman, who topped both free practice sessions on Friday, briefly led the way in the early stages of qualifying before Richie Stanaway grabbed top spot just 11 minutes in. The Kiwi then boosted his chances of hanging on to pole by improving his time with only four minutes to go, before Pic snatched it away just two minutes later.
Stanaway, who had already been bumped back a place by Kevin Korjus, had to settle for fourth in the end. Shortly after Pic crossed the line to take pole, Nick Yelloly completed an impressive lap to grab second.
Korjus was one of several drivers to get caught up in traffic in the final couple of minutes, as many drivers slowed before the final hairpin to try to find space. Not only was the Estonian baulked by cars ahead of him, but he was almost hit by preseason testing star Robin Frijns, who still managed to improve on his final lap but had to settle for 12th.
The third row of the grid appeared set to be an all-GP2 converts affair with Jules Bianchi fifth and Sam Bird sixth as the flag dropped, but late improvements from Jake Rosenzweig, Carlos Huertas and Nico Muller split the pair, pushing Bird back to ninth.