• Arden Motorsport’s Horsten quickest, but pre-existing grid penalty promotes Maloney to pole position.
• Louis Foster on the front row could provide fireworks in the title fight at the front.
• Opening race at 1.26-mile Fife circuit gets underway at 15:45 BST.

Carlin’s Zane Maloney claimed a double pole position in qualifying for this weekend’s F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost clash at Knockhill after a 5-place grid penalty for initial pace-setter Bart Horsten.

The Arden Motorsport racer set a quickest time of 49.208 seconds at the 1.26-mile Fife circuit in overcast conditions, but his three penalty points accrued at Thruxton mean he will start the opening contest just sixth.

Maloney, who leapt ahead on the final runs into the runner-up spot on a 49.217, a mere seven thousandths of a second behind the Australian, will therefore have clear track ahead of him when racing begins later today.

That gives the championship leader a perfect opportunity to end a run of five races without a podium finish, and with one of his chief rivals Louis Foster (Double R Racing) alongside on the front row, the outcome of their battle could have wider significance in the title fight.

Foster did lead at one stage as Double R Racing performed well in the opening exchanges. Foster’s team-mate (and Maloney’s closest challenger), Sebastian Alvarez, will start fifth.

The Mexican is just behind Tommy Foster (Arden) and Josh Skelton (JHR) on the front row, with Skelton’s team mate Carter Williams responsible for the only red flag stoppage of the session after an off into the gravel on the exit of Leslie’s.

Alex Connor (Arden) will start behind his demoted team mate Horsten in seventh with Fortec Motorsport’s Roberto Faria for company alongside, whilst Luke Browning (Richardson Racing) and double Thruxton race-winner Williams round out the top ten.

Reema Juffali (Double R) will have a good chance at more points from eleventh; Mariano Martinez (Fortec) and Abbie Munro (Arden) on her debut round out the thirteen-strong field.

The opening race of the weekend in Scotland gets underway at 15:45 BST.

Provisional Grid – Race 1

Provisional Grid – Race 3