Louis Sharp strikes first in British F4 title fight with pole and victory in Brands Hatch finale

Kiwi Louis Sharp has taken a crucial step towards the British F4 title after taking pole and victory in race one of the series finale at Brands Hatch.

Louis Sharp celebrates victory in race one of the British F4 finale at Brands Hatch. (Motorsport UK)

Sharp now has a lead of 13 points over rival William Macintyre, who finished third in race one, and will also start race three from pole position.

The sole qualifying session was tightly contested, with Deagen Fairclough at the top of the timing sheets after the first set of timed runs before Macintyre went one better.

Sharp hit back with a time of 1:24.130, on pole ahead of Fairclough and besting his rival in third by just over two tenths of a second.

The Rodin Carlin driver lead the field from lights-to-flag, withholding an early challenge from Fairclough who later ran off the circuit but held position in second.

The JHR driver, fighting for third in the standings behind the lead pair, set about earning the bonus point for fastest lap, which he took from Sharp on the final tour

It’s all to play for in the final two races of the season, with race two at 10.10pm Sunday (AEDT) and race three at 1.55am Monday morning.