NATHAN EDWARDS, ARCHIE JOHNSON HEAD BRANDS HATCH QUALIFYING

Nathan Edwards and Archie Johnson topped the times in qualifying for the final rounds of the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE season at Brands Hatch.

Whilst Edwards led the way in the headline JCW class for the fourth meeting in a row, Johnson edged his way to top spot in JCW Sport to extend his advantage at the stop of the standings going into the final three races of the year.

Edwards would lead the way in the session ahead of EXCELR8 team-mate Tom Ovenden, who heads the championship standings going into the weekend, with the pair split by less than two-tenths of a second.

Edwards hit the front in the latter part of the session before a red flag was thrown to allow the car of Alex Brandham to be recovered from the gravel at Paddock Hill Bend, preventing anyone else from having a run at his time in the final five minutes.

“I’ll take a fourth double pole in a row!” he said. “It was a tough session as we’d not had any dry running yesterday and there was no rubber on the circuit like you’d normally have, but the team has given me a fantastic car and I was able to make the most of it.

“We had to be proper ballsy out of the back of the circuit and hang on for dear life, even though I think there was more time in the car if we’d not been blocked. I’m just looking forward to the races now as I think we’ve got a good chance to do well.”

Behind the top two, Max Edmundson was best of the rest for Pro Alloys Racing as he looks to wrap up the Rookie Cup, although he had Harry Hickton just behind despite the Mannpower Motorsport man ending his session early with an off at turn one,

Guest entry Nick Tandy and Josh Porter rounded out the top six, with title contender Lewis Selby having work to do from tenth on the grid.

As expected, the battle for pole in the JCW Sport class came down to the two drivers doing battle for the title, with Johnson emerging on top ahead of Jamsport partner Henry Howarth.

It would be a close run thing however with just 0.034s splitting the pair when the session was halted, with Chris Mackenzie close behind in third having at one stage looked good for pole.

“That’s the most important pole by a million miles, as it’s opened the gap a little bit more between me and Henry – although it’s still not a big gap at all,” Johnson said.

“I’m approaching this weekend in the same way I have approached every other weekend this season and am trying not to think about the championship.

“I’m just trying to do the best job I can and there are a few places where I think we can still improve, but this is a good start.”

Ben Crossley took fourth spot, with Will Crooks and Nicky Gauci rounding out the field.