Jamie Chadwick took W Series pole position ahead of title rival Alice Powell at Spa in a qualifying session overshadowed by a serious multiple-car crash.
The reigning champion took the front spot on the grid for Veloce Racing by seven-tenths of a second from Powell (Racing X), with the pair having tussled for the lead in the standings all season. But the session was red flagged after five minutes after a crash at Eau Rouge, with six cars involved in the horrific collision - Sarah Moore, Abbie Eaton, Belen Garcia, Fabienne Wohlwend, Ayla Agren and Beitske Visser. Moore was first into the corner before the other cars collided into the barriers, with Eaton sent upwards after being hit side-on, while Visser was sent rolling upside-down and others crashing into each other.
The organisers later confirmed "all drivers involved in the incident are undergoing medical assessment and two of the drivers - Ayla Agren and Beitske Visser - have been transferred to hospital for further checks." W Series Academy driver Nerea Marti qualified in third place, 1.163 seconds behind Chadwick, with Puma’s Caitlin Wood in fourth and Emma Kimilainen (Ecurie W) in fifth.
It is not yet known whether all 18 cars will start on the grid tomorrow after such extensive damage was suffered, with a limited supply of spare cars to use. The series organisers have said a full update on the incident will be issued shortly.