Andy SoucekFormula 2 championship leader Andy Soucek claimed his maiden series pole position in today's qualifying for Sunday's race at Brands Hatch.

The Spaniard, who won at Brno earlier this year, squeezed out his nearest title rival Robert Wickens by just 0.028s.

"It's the first time i've driven here and it was a fantastic experience," said Soucek. "To have second for first race today and pole tomorrow, I'm really pleased because I didn't know the track."

The pair were the only drivers to break into the 1m16s, while Sebastian Hohenthal was just a fraction further back in third.

The Swede has been demoted five places for today's first race after exceeding the track limits at Paddock Hill Bend and may well receive the same penalty today after being shown another black flag for the same offence.

Race one pole-sitter Philipp Eng set the fourth fastest time, with Red Bull-backed duo Mirko Bortolotti and Mikhail Aleshin - who were both also penalised after yesterday's qualifying - completing the top six.

Carlos Iaconelli finished the session seventh, ahead of Henry Surtees who held the top spot mid-way through the session but was bumped down the order in the last five minutes.
Pos Driver                      Time           Gap

1. Andy Soucek 1m16.947s

2. Robert Wickens 1m16.975s +0.028

3. Sebastian Hohenthal 1m17.108s +0.161

4. Philipp Eng 1m17.207s +0.260

5. Mirko Bortolotti 1m17.299s +0.352

6. Mikhail Aleshin 1m17.398s +0.451

7. Carlos Iaconelli 1m17.423s +0.476

8. Henry Surtees 1m17.463s +0.516

9. Natacha Gachnang 1m17.476s +0.529

10. Tobias Hegewald 1m17.481s +0.534

11. Edoardo Piscopo 1m17.506s +0.559

12. Jason Moore 1m17.512s +0.565

13. Henri Karjalainen 1m17.637s +0.690

14. Milos Pavlovic 1m17.664s +0.717

15. Kazim Vasiliauskas 1m17.692s +0.745

16. Julien Jousse 1m17.709s +0.762

17. Tom Gladdis 1m17.733s +0.786

18. Jack Clarke 1m17.801s +0.854

19. Nicola de Marco 1m17.822s +0.875

20. Jolyon Palmer 1m18.084s +1.137

21. German Sanchez 1m18.172s +1.225

22. Armaan Ebrahim 1m18.247s +1.300

23. Jens Hoing 1m18.628s +1.681

24. Pietro Gandolfi 1m19.754s +2.807

25. Alex Brundle 1m35.908s +18.961