Pasma triumphs in fierce battle for pole.

Front row lockout for Arden with Doohan lining up alongside Pasma.

11 AUGUST, 2018 – For the second time in the space of two weeks Patrik Pasma claimed a superb double pole in qualifying for the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. Having achieved the feat at Snetterton, the Arden racer did so once again by overcoming a fierce challenge from team-mates Jack Doohan and Dennis Hauger, as well as Kiern Jewiss.

Like many in the field Pasma’s fastest lap came in the first half of the session, with drivers unable to find more time as track temperatures increased.

The Finn put down a benchmark of 1m 18.742s to go 0.105s clear of Double R Racing’s Jewiss with 10 minutes left of the session to run.

Meanwhile, Hauger and Doohan were in the thick of the fight for pole too. Both drivers just over a tenth adrift.

However of the top four drivers, Doohan proved the only one capable of improving his lap time as the session came to an end. The Aussie recorded a lap of 1m 18.823s to leap up to the front row with just minutes to spare and ensure a front row lockout for Arden.

While the top four were separated by only 0.158s in the battle for pole for round 19, the margins were even closer in the fight for pole for round 21 which is based on second-fastest lap times. The same quartet were covered by a mere 0.079s, with Jewiss just edging out Doohan to secure a front row grid slot alongside poleman Pasma.

“That was a great qualifying,” said Pasma. “I’m really pleased with pole. It makes your life so much easier for the races.

“We’ve had the pace since we did the test here last week so even though the times were really tight, we were confident.

“It’s possible to get a massive tow down the main straight which will make it tough for me with the guys behind, but I think I can keep them there.

“I think the track temperature went up as the session progressed and that’s why people struggled to improve.”

Added Doohan: “It was a really close session. I would have liked a little bit more. After I recorded my quickest lap I think I pushed a little too hard on the following laps.

“Nevertheless, we start from P2 and we can fight for the win from there. Patrik is very fast here though so it will be tough.

“Our race pace is better than the guys behind, but Patrik has a little bit of an edge at the moment. Luckily he is my team-mate so hopefully I can take a look at his data!”

Manuel Sulaiman put in his best qualifying performance of the season by bagging fifth place on the grid and out-qualifying JHR Developments team-mates Ayrton Simmons and Josh Skelton. The pair qualifying eighth and 11th respectively for this afternoon’s race. Sulaiman will however start from 10th on the grid in round 19 due to a five-place grid penalty handed to him for driving in a manner incompatible with general safety at the previous meeting.

Ahead of Simmons will line-up Paavo Tonteri (Double R Racing) and Sebastian Priaulx (Arden), while Johnathan Hoggard (Fortec Motorsports) and Sebastian Alvarez (Double R Racing) completed the top-10.

The first race of the weekend follows at 1415.

F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost

Provisional qualifying times Rockingham, 11 August, 2018

1 Patrik PASMA / FIN / Arden 1:18.742

2 Jack DOOHAN / AUD / Arden 1:18.823

3 Kiern JEWISS / GBR / Double R 1:18.847

4 Dennis HAUGER / NOR / Arden 1:18.900

5 Manuel SULAIMAN* / MEX / JHR 1:19.020

6 Paavo TONTERI / FIN / Double R 1:19.023

7 Sebastian PRIAULX / GBR / Arden 1:19.066

8 Ayrton SIMMONS / GBR / JHR 1:19.119

9 Johnathan HOGGARD / GBR / Fortec 1:19.314

10 Sebastian ALVAREZ / MEX / Double R 1:19.456 etc.

*Five-place grid penalty.

Round 21 grid order (based on second-fastest times)

Pasma – Jewiss – Doohan – Hauger – Sulaiman – Priaulx – Simmons – Tonteri – Hoggard – Alvarez etc.

Full times