Jolyon Palmer will start from 23rd on the grid for Saturday's GP2 Feature Race at Spa after a frustrating wet qualifying session at the world famous 7.004km track.

The West Sussex racer battled difficult conditions, which saw several drivers lose control and spin, to record a best time of 2:23.495s.

After limiting running at the circuit following a spin in this morning's free practice session, Jolyon spent the opening stages acclimatising himself to the tricky conditions of the Spa Francorchamps circuit - venue for rounds 15 and 16 of the F1 feeder-series.

Throughout the remainder of the 30-minute session the 20-year-old continued to push hard and showed good pace even though his first flying laps of the weekend were only now taking place.

The Brit then looked to be on course for a personal best on his final lap but was frustratingly forced to ease off the throttle for waved yellow flags in the final sector while marshals recovered the stranded car of Charles Pic.

Speaking afterwards, Jolyon said: "After not completing any laps in practice it was always going to be a tough session. It was wet and times were coming down all the time, unfortunately there was a yellow flag towards the end of the lap so I couldn't improve where I knew there was a lot of time to be had."

Meanwhile, Racing Engineering's Christian Vietoris secured the overall honours for the session and will start on pole for Saturday's opening race with Luca Filippi in second and Charles Pic in third.

Tomorrow's (Saturday) 25-lap Feature Race gets underway at 15:40 (local time) with full coverage on Jolyon's official website.

Results, Spa GP2 Qualifying:

1. C Vietoris, Racing Engineering, 2:18.345s
2. L Filppi, Scuderia Coloni, +1.434s
3. C Pic, Addax, +1.711s
4. J Bianchi, ART, +1.866s
5. M Herck, Scuderia, +2.403s
6. M Ericsson, +iSport, +2.513s
7. A Carroll, Super, +3.146s
8. R Grosjean, DAMS, +3.370s
9. J Cecotto, Ocean, +3.408s
23. J Palmer, Arden, +5.150s