Robbie Kerr provided British crowds with exactly what they had come to see by claiming pole position for the final round of A1 Grand Prix at Brands Hatch following an unpredictable qualifying session.

Although arguably considered the favourite to grab the top spot following his impressive pace in practice, Kerr nonetheless had to fight for pole following an intense tussle with both Germany and France.

Indeed, France's Loic Duval had made the early running before Kerr hit the top of the timesheets again at the end of the third qualifying segment with what would turn out to be the best lap of the day.

However, it was new champions Germany that would end up being Great Britain's sternest rivals for the top spot, Nico Hulkenberg keeping a low presence to that point after failing to set a time in the second qualifying segment. As it happens though, his final lap was good enough to snatch provisional pole position off Kerr, prompting the former British Formula 3 Champion to go all out on the very final lap of the day.

Things were made all the more tense by a brief off suffered by Kerr on his out-lap, both delaying him slightly in his attempts to beat the clock so as to start his fast lap but also blemish his tyres. However, while Kerr was unable to better Hulkenberg's time, it was enough to keep his aggregate time almost two tenths up on his rival.

It leaves Kerr on pole for the second race in a row, ahead of Germany and France, while Enrico Toccacelo was left to rue a disappointing final segment to remain fourth having initially looked as though Italy would be able to challenge for outright pole.

India look a strong bet for good points this weekend after Narain Karthikeyan was able to translate his practice pace into qualifying, even if his lacklustre final effort also prevented him from disturbing the established order up front.

Malaysia start the final race in sixth position, just up on Switzerland's Sebastien Buemi, who only came good in the final segment to jump from tenth to seventh in the final seconds. Netherlands will start eighth, ahead of Great Britain's nearest rivals for the runner-up spot in the overall standings New Zealand, Matt Halliday proving consistent, if not scintillatingly quick.

An impressive effort in the third segment got South Africa into the top ten, edging out Jonathan Summerton, who had been an outside bet for pole position but only participated in the final two segments of qualifying after crashing in the first session.