Jenson Brickley claims maiden TCR UK pole in close Brands finale qualifying
Cupra driver Jenson Brickley claimed his maiden TCR UK pole position in a dramatic and close qualifying session at Brands Hatch Indy.
The drivers fought tricky conditions as a light rain shower hit the session with 22 minutes left, seeing Garry Townsend going off into the barriers.
But the track never got wet enough for wet tyres and Bickley set a new TCR qualifying lap record with 48:280 with six minutes left of the session.
And it was a close top four, with JH Racing driver Callum Newsham (Hyundai) just 31 thousands of a second behind in second place.
Area Motorsport driver Alex Ley (Hyundai) was a mere four thousands of a second slower in third place while reigning champion Chris Smiley (Honda) was fourth fastest, 0.061 seconds from pole.
Carl Boardley extended his championship lead with fifth place in qualifying, 0.112 seconds from pole, to 49 points over Adam Shepherd who could only manage seventh position.
And there was drama for Boardley at the very end of the session, spinning at the exit of Turn 1. This saw Constable also spinning while taking evasive action, brushing the tyre barriers and sustaining what seemed to be rear suspension damage.
Joe Marshall was sixth fastest for Rob Boston Racing while Jac Constable rounded off the top eight.
Bruce Winfield, who is placed third overall on 294 points, finished eleventh.
The first race of the weekend starts at 12:20 local time/13:20 CEST on Sunday.
