Douglas Motorsport's Kiern Jewiss claimed a dramatic late double pole position in a very close qualifying session on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit this morning (Saturday).

The reigning British F4 champion left it until after the chequered flag had shown to put in his best effort, and jumped to the top of the timesheets with his last effort, with his time of 1m55.845s being the quickest recorded lap by a BRDC British F3 car on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit.

Jewiss was 0.117s quicker than Hillspeed's Sasakorn Chaimongkol, who looked on course to claim his maiden qualifying pole, with championship challenger Ayrton Simmons third for Chris Dittmann Racing.

Jewiss leaves it late for race one pole

The 16-year-old British driver led the times early on, but the session was dominated by Hillspeed's Chaimongkol, who topped the times for the majority. The Thai driver was the first to break the qualifying lap record held by Linus Lundqvist, and then trimmed even more time off to set a 1m55.962s in the second half of the session. At that time, he was just one thousandth of a second quicker than Simmons, with Jewiss sitting third, just 0.006s behind.

But Jewiss' last lap was enough to put him over a tenth clear of Chaimongkol, who nevertheless will enjoy a front row start, with Simmons in third unable to make any further improvements, and was just 0.001s behind.

Simmons' fellow championship challenger Johnathan Hoggard was just over a tenth further back in fourth for Fortec, and exactly two tenths clear of Douglas Motorsport's Ulysse De Pauw, another driver to sit at the top of the times for a moment.

Pre-event testing pace setter, Double R's Neil Verhagen, was sixth fastest, half a second away from Jewiss' ultimate pace and 0.021s quicker than Carlin's Kaylen Frederick. A late effort from Benjamin Pedersen put him eighth for Douglas Motorsport and demoted championship leader Clement Novalak down to ninth for Carlin, who was just 0.020s ahead of Double R's Hampus Ericsson, who completes the race one grid top-10, separated by just 0.707 seconds.

Jewiss doubles up for race three pole

With the grid for race three decided by each driver's second fastest time, Jewiss also claimed pole with a 1m55.969s. That put him just 0.020s quicker than Simmons who will start race three from second, with Hoggard also moving up a spot to third.

De Pauw climbs up to fourth while race one front row starter Chaimongkol will start fifth for race three. Pedersen was sixth quickest on second fastest times, while Novalak rises up a couple of places to seventh.

Ericsson, Verhagen and Frederick complete the top-10 on the race three grid.

The first race of the weekend is due to commence at 14.25.

BRDC British F3 Championship, qualifying result:

1. Kiern Jewiss, Douglas Motorsport, 1m55.845s

2. Sasakorn Chaimongkol, Hillspeed, +0.117s

3. Ayrton Simmons, Chris Dittmann Racing, +0.118s

4. Johnathan Hoggard, Fortec Motorsports, +0.225s

5. Ulysse De Pauw, Douglas Motorsport, +0.425s

6. Neil Verhagen, Double R Racing, +0.505s

7. Kaylen Frederick, Carlin, +0.526s

8. Benjamin Pedersen, Douglas Motorsport, +0.593s

9. Clement Novalak, Carlin, +0.687s

10. Hampus Ericsson, Double R Racing, +0.707s

11. Lucas Petersson, Carlin, +1.048s

12. Josh Mason, Lanan Racing, +1.115s

13. Manuel Maldonado, Fortec Motorsports, +1.189s

14. Pavan Ravishankar, Double R Racing, +1.239s

15. Nico Varrone, Hillspeed, +1.360s

16. Nazim Azman, Chris Dittmann Racing, +1.747s

17. Kris Wright, Fortec Motorsports, +2.461s

BRDC British F3 Championship, second fastest times:

1. Kiern Jewiss, Douglas Motorsport, 1m55.969s

2. Ayrton Simmons, Chris Dittmann Racing, +0.020s

3. Johnathan Hoggard, Fortec Motorsports, +0.323s

4. Ulysse De Pauw, Douglas Motorsport, +0.382s

5. Sasakorn Chaimongkol, Hillspeed, +0.487s

6. Benjamin Pedersen, Douglas Motorsport, +0.550s

7. Clement Novalak, Carlin, +0.643s

8. Hampus Ericsson, Double R Racing, +0.717s

9. Neil Verhagen, Double R Racing, +0.793s

10. Kaylen Frederick, Carlin, +0.827s

11. Josh Mason, Lanan Racing, +1.029s

12. Lucas Petersson, Carlin, +1.142s

13. Manuel Maldonado, Fortec Motorsports, +1.233s

14. Pavan Ravishankar, Double R Racing, +1.429s

15. Nico Varrone, Hillspeed, +1.495s

16. Nazim Azman, Hillspeed, +1.859s

17. Kris Wright, Fortec Motorsports, +2.978s