Hugh Barter topped a tense qualifying session at Nogaro taking pole position for Race 1 and Race 3 of the weekend in French F4.

The 16-year-old stormed to the first pole position of his French F4 career setting a 1:28.127 at the season opener edging the Red Bull supported driver Souta Arao by 0.083 seconds.

Barter will start from pole position in both Race 1 and Race 3 by virtue of his second best time, a 1:28.149, being quicker than anyone else’s effort.

Barter went fractionally quicker than the Japanese driver with a superb lap prior to the session being disrupted late on with a red flag.

Pierre-Alexandre Provost, winner at Lédenon in 2021, finished third ahead of his compatriot Elliott Vayron.

Provost will line up second on the grid alongside Barter for Race 3 on Monday.

Alessandro Giusti topped the opening practice session of the weekend and qualified in P5 for Race 1 0.392 seconds behind Barter.

The Pirelli tyres are notorious for high degradation which saw the best lap times set in the opening 10 minutes of the session.

Enzo Geraci produced a solid P6 at Nogaro to begin his second campaign in French F4 at the circuit he made his debut at last season. 

Belgian driver Lorens Lecertua qualified in seventh place on his debut in car racing after a strong karting career.

The top 10 was rounded out by Swiss driver Dario Cabanelas, Red Bull Junior Team member Yuto Nomura and Enzo Peugeot in P10.

Amir Sayed lacked raw pace in qualifying setting just the 17th quickest time after finishing in P7 in the Saturday morning practice session.

French F4 has been ultra competitive in recent years and 2022 is no exception with the top 20 drivers separated by 1.440 seconds on the 2.259 mile circuit.

*Image credits: Roger Gascoigne