Fabienne Wolhwend claimed her first W Series pole position for Saturday's Misano round, beating championship leader Jamie Chadwick by just 0.044.
The Lichenstein-born driver benefitted from her previous experience at the Misano Circuit, having competed there in the Ferrari Challenge, to set a chart-topping time of 1:33.283 half way through the qualifying session.
Chadwick set the early pace, but that lap didn't hold up as the track conditions improved and she slipped down the order, before a late flyer sent her back up to second.
Beitske Visser will lead the second row from third. She looked competitive but just fell short of deposing Chadwick from second with a time of 1:33.483.
Alice Powell will start fourth, having snatched the position in the closing minutes of the session, pipping Vicky Piria by a tenth, ahead of Miki Koyama, Marta Garcia and Esmee Hawkey.
The top ten was completed by Sarah Moore and Tasmin Pepper.
