Colin Turkington charges to fourth pole position of the season

Colin Turkington set a brand-new qualifying lap record on his way to clinching the final pole position of the British Touring Car Championship season at Brands Hatch GP, setting up a tantalising title showdown in the process.

The West Surrey Racing driver charged to the top of the times in Q3 to snare his fourth pole position of the year and with it, claim the coveted Goodyear Wingfoot Award for the third time.

Of the joint championship leaders, Tom Ingram will be well-placed to begin his charge for a second BTCC title on race day after producing a superlative lap – despite only have one second of hybrid deployment – to secure second on the grid.

Fellow points leader Jake Hill could only manage sixth though, highlighting a change in how his BMW 330e M Sport was handling in-between the Q2 and Q3 sessions.

Having dominated proceedings up until the Quick Six shootout, reigning champion Ash Sutton had looked on course to clinch pole position however a track limits infringement saw him have his fastest lap taken away.

Regrouping, the Alliance Racing bounced back in the closing stages of the session to clinch third while Josh Cook was sixth and the provisional Independents’ champion Aron Taylor-Smith an impressive fifth.

Starting behind Hill for the first of tomorrow’s three all-important races around the Grand Prix circuit is the soon-to-be crowned Jack Sears Trophy title winner Mikey Doble, Daryl Deleon, Adam Morgan and Dan Cammish.

Notable names outside the top ten included Aiden Moffat in 11th, Dan Rowbottom in 12th and Rob Huff in 13th – the latter having had a lurid sideways moment on the GP loop.