Jonathan Kennard began his bid for Visma Software Formula Palmer Audi Championship honours with pole position for tomorrow's Round 9 at Silverstone, despite his gearbox breaking towards the end of the session. The 19 year-old from Tunbridge Wells posted a time of 1min 50.192, 0.171 of a second quicker than main series rival Rob Jenkinson, before being forced into the pits before the chequered flag. His time though was good enough to give him pole, while multiple Caterham champion Jenkinson will line up alongside him on the front row of the grid.

Aedas-backed Kennard, who won last year's Autumn Trophy and was awarded BRDC Rising Star membership earlier this year, will now attempt to take double pole in tomorrow's second qualifying at 10.15, for Sunday's Round 10.

"To start with I just carefully warmed my tyres up," said Jonathan. Just to make sure everything was working correctly then I came into the pits to have the tyres checked over and then I went back out and set some quick laps one of which put me on pole. I was pretty consistent and all my laps were within around 3/10ths of each other, about 12 of them so that's pretty good. Then on the last lap, when I was on another pretty good lap at the time, the gearbox just went. They should have it sorted though for the next qualifying tomorrow."

With qualifying for the second race at 10.15 tomorrow, Round 9 will take place at 13.00 with Race 2 (Round 10) starting at 12.40 on Sunday.

Further media information:    

Cathy Metcalfe
MPR Associates
tel: +44 (0)1327 352199
fax: +44 (0)1327 352908
gsm: +44 (0)7802 332398
e-mail: cathymetcalfe@mpr-associates.co.uk