W Series championship leader Jamie Chadwick will start the final race of the season at Brands Hatch Grand Prix from pole position.
Chadwick needs a podium in the race later today to guarantee her the title, and set a best time of 1m22.425s to go fastest right at the end of qualifying.
The times kept tumbling and the lead changed a number of times in what was a tightly contested session, with Alice Powell having to settle for second after being fastest late on.
Esmee Hawkey made it a all-British top three, setting a best time of 1m22.804s, ahead of free practice pacesetter and Assen winner Emma Kimialinen.
Kimilainen had looked to be challenging for pole throughout qualifying but she made a couple of mistakes, the latter – where she went off heading up to Westfield – meant she was unable to set one last flying lap and she pulled in to the pits with a minute remaining.
Chadwick’s sole title rival Beitske Visser could only manage fifth, nearly eight tenths off pole after having a problem-hit time in free practice.
Fabienne Wohlwend was sixth fastest with Miki Koyama, Sarah Moore, Jessica Hawkins and Vicky Piria rounding out the top 10.
Qualifying results
Pos | Name | Nationality | Time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Jamie Chadwick | Great Britain | 1m22.425s |
2 | Alice Powell | Great Britain | +0.368s |
3 | Esmee Hawkey | Great Britain | +0.439s |
4 | Emma Kimilainen | Finland | +0.476s |
5 | Beitske Visser | The?Netherlands | +0.785s |
6 | Fabienne Wohlwend | Liechtenstein | +0.785s |
7 | Miki Koyama | Japan | +0.901s |
8 | Sarah Moore | Great Britain | +1.109s |
9 | Jessica Hawkins | Great Britain | +1.147s |
10 | Vicky Piria | Italy | +1.182s |
11 | Marta Garcia | Spain | +1.376s |
12 | Sabre Cook | USA | +1.425s |
13 | Gosia Rdest | Poland | +1.793s |
14 | Caitlin Wood | Australia | +1.891s |
15 | Tasmin Pepper | South Africa | +1.913s |
16 | Sarah Bovy | Belgium | +2.145s |
17 | Vivien Keszthelyi | Hungary | +2.350s |
18 | Megan Gilkes | Canada | +2.445s |
19 | Shea Holbrook | USA | +2.777s |
20 | Naomi Schiff | Germany | +2.926s |