Photo: BRDC F4
BRDC F4 Championship leader Jake Hughes beat a late red flag to claim pole position in the final qualifying of the year at Donington Park.
Matthew Graham had led much of the session but Hughes bettered his time by 0.222 seconds with two minutes left on the clock, just before the session was brought to an early end when Diego Menchaca went off and brought out the red flags.
Hughes could wrap up the inaugural title in the weekend’s first race if he finishes on the podium, depending on the results of the five other drivers mathematically in contention.
Matt Mason, contesting just his second weekend in the series, will start race one from third position ahead of Seb Morris, currently third in the standings.
Privateer James Greenway scored his best qualifying result of the season in fifth ahead of title outsiders Charlie Robertson and Jake Dalton. Menchaca managed eighth with James Fletcher and Struan Moore completing the top ten.
Hughes’ nearest rival Jack Barlow languished down in 13th place, 1.2 seconds off the pace.
Qualifying results
| Pos | Driver? | Team | Time? | Gap | ?Laps? |
| 1 | Jake Hughes | Lanan Racing | 1:30.795 | 10 | |
| 2 | Matthew Graham | Sean Walkinshaw Racing | 1:31.017 | 0.222 | 9 |
| 3 | Matt Mason | MGR Motorsport | 1:31.373 | 0.578 | 8 |
| 4 | Seb Morris | Hillspeed | 1:31.558 | 0.763 | 9 |
| 5 | James Greenway | Frank T Greenway Racing | 1:31.568 | 0.773 | 11 |
| 6 | Charlie Robertson | HHC Motorsport | 1:31.585 | 0.790 | 7 |
| 7 | Jake Dalton | MGR Motorsport | 1:31.675 | 0.880 | 7 |
| 8 | Diego Menchaca | MGR Motorsport | 1:31.759 | 0.964 | 10 |
| 9 | James Fletcher | Team KBS | 1:31.776 | 0.981 | 10 |
| 10 | Struan Moore | Hillspeed | 1:31.826 | 1.031 | 9 |
| 11 | Gustavo Lima | HHC Motorsport | 1:31.979 | 1.184 | 8 |
| 12 | Matt Bell | MattRBell Racing Team E-Lites | 1:31.991 | 1.196 | 10 |
| 13 | Jack Barlow | Sean Walkinshaw Racing | 1:32.011 | 1.216 | 11 |
| 14 | Raoul Hyman | HHC Motorsport | 1:32.075 | 1.280 | 9 |
| 15 | Rahul Mayer | Hillspeed | 1:32.398 | 1.603 | 10 |
| 16 | Max Cornelius | Chris Dittmann Racing | 1:32.784 | 1.989 | 7 |
| 17 | Daniel Headlam | Lanan Racing | 1:32.786 | 1.991 | 8 |
| 18 | Malgosia Rdest | Douglas Motorsport | 1:33.137 | 2.342 | 9 |