FUJI SPEEDWAY, Japan : Lewis Hamilton snatched pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix in a rain-hit Fuji qualifying session on Saturday, denying title rival Fernando Alonso with a thrilling final lap.

The championship leader punched the air in delight and gave himself the thumbs-up after taking pole for the fourth time of his stellar rookie season.

Hamilton, who leads McLaren team-mate Alonso by two points with three races left, bagged top spot right at the end of the session by just 0.070 seconds as he defied the greasy conditions with a time of one minute 25.368 seconds.

The Ferraris of Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa will line up on the second row of the grid after being outgunned by their rivals in a qualifying session that looked at one stage as though it would have to be postponed after practice earlier had been abandoned because of fog.

Hamilton, 22, said: “I’m feeling relaxed and with the way this weekend has gone I am even more relaxed. I know I have got two guys breathing down my neck but I am not bothered. But it is going to be a very close, tough race and the key will be getting to the first corner first.

“I knew it was my last chance at pole and I was delighted when I got it. That’s why I punched the air. We had not had much practice in the wet conditions and it was difficult to see the pit boards and know where you were. But it was good fun out there and I am sure if the conditions are changing during the race it will be exciting.”

Double world champion Alonso said: “I really enjoyed driving here at Fuji for the first time. I liked those conditions. I think for everybody it was quite an exciting qualifying because of the fog this morning.

“It would have been better to be on pole but I am on the front row, which is important. It is very close between the top four drivers.”

Raikkonen, 13 points behind Hamilton and needing to win Sunday’s race to keep his title hopes alive, finished just a tenth of a second back.

The Finn said: “I had a small problem with the gearbox but hopefully that will be fixed for tomorrow. It was a sensor problem which cost us some time.

“But the car felt pretty OK in the last session and I was happy. I think I am in a good position for the race.”

Germany’s Nick Heidfeld was fifth fastest for BMW, just ahead of his countryman Nico Rosberg, driving for Williams, who will start 10 places further back after suffering a penalty for changing his race engine earlier in the weekend. - AFP/ch

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FUJI SPEEDWAY, Japan : Lewis Hamilton turned up the heat on title rival Fernando Alonso as he swept to the top of the time-sheets in Friday’s second practice for Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji.

The championship pacesetter clocked the fastest time of the day on Formula One’s return to the track for the first time in three decades.

British rookie Hamilton’s time of one minute, 18.734 seconds on the 4.563-kilometre circuit was just over two-tenths of a second quicker than that of Spanish double world champion Alonso.

The McLaren duo, who were fourth and third respectively in the morning session, were the only drivers to dip under the one minute, 19 seconds barrier on the modernised track in the foothills of Mount Fuji.

Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, who had been second quickest in opening practice behind team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, was third fastest in the afternoon session, but almost 0.8 seconds down on Hamilton.

Raikkonen finished fifth, with the Ferraris separated by Toyota’s Jarno Trulli on the track owned by the Japanese car giant. Heikki Kovalainen was sixth fastest for Renault.

Hamilton had vowed Thursday to respond to Alonso’s recent performances, which have cut his championship lead to just two points with three races left this season.

And the rookie was good to his word with a flying lap right early in the 90-minute session which Alonso was unable to better.

The duo’s relationship has become soured in recent weeks with Hamilton warning his team-mate he will respond if Alonso repeats his aggressive first corner move at the last race in Belgium.

Germany’s Nico Rosberg will be demoted 10 places down the grid from his qualifying position Saturday after his Williams team were forced to change his Toyota engine.

He finished 13th in second practice having been fifth in the morning session. - AFP/ch

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SINGAPORE: ComfortDelgro said Yellow-Top Cab will cease operations from October 1. All existing taxis and hirers will be transferred to Comfort Transportation.

ComfortDelGro, which currently operates 15,000 taxis, said the main decision to discontinue the Yellow-Top brand is to improve operating efficiency of its taxi business.

The Yellow-Top Toyota Crown cabs will be repainted blue, in line with other Comfort cabs.

The Sovereign Mercedes Limousine taxis will retain its look and brand.

Yellow-Top Cab Pte Ltd was formed in 1996. - CNA/ac

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