The British driver is now in a race win distance to championship leader Joey Mawson, after clinching pole in the final qualifying session of the championship.

The European F3 driver clocked in a time of 1m30.253s and was 0.156s clear of title contender Mick Schumacher, while Mawson was only seventh in a scratchy outing for the 2016 German F4 champion.

The Australian had several moments during the 30-minutes session, also surviving an off at Turn 12, where he was an inch away from hitting the tyre barrier.

Meanwhile, Red Bull junior Dan Ticktum on his MRF Challenge debut claimed a solid third, despite going off the track onto the grass at the start of the session.

Behind, Juri Vips led his countryman Ralf Aron in fourth and fifth respectively, with Felipe Drugovich ending up sixth, ahead of the aforementioned Mawson.

The Formula 4 SEA champion Presley Martono and Red Bull junior Neil Verhagen were eighth and ninth on their debut, with Dylan Young rounding off the Top 10.

Qualifying results: