2021 GB3 race-winner Oliver Bearman headed 2020 series runner-up Kush Maini in qualifying for the FIA Formula 2 Championship in Saudi Arabia.
The British driver, who endured a difficult season opener last week, powered to pole by just 0.025s over the Indian driver, who had qualified on pole in Bahrain, only to lose it with a post-session technical issue.
Both drivers will therefore start at the front of the grid for Saturday’s Feature Race around the flat out Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
2021 champion Zak O’Sullivan, who scored points in both Bahrain races last weekend, and lies fifth in the standings heading into the weekend, was 14th fastest on his first visit to Saudi Arabia, and only six tenths of a second away from pole position.
The first race of the weekend is the Sprint tomorrow, which reverses the top-10 on the grid. Maini and Bearman will therefore start ninth and tenth respectively.