Stanek beats Martins to Barcelona F3 pole position

After showing impressive pace during the 45-minute practice session this morning, Martins continued to be the man to beat going into the final runs in a sunny Barcelona.

Stanek's last-ditch effort propelled him to the top of the order to secure his first pole of the year ahead of Martins. 

Alex Smolyar completed the top three for MP Motorsport, just a tenth shy of Stanek's pole time.

Red Bull F1 junior Isack Hadjar continued to impress for Hitech, securing fourth on the grid for Sunday's main event, a couple of tenths off the pace.

Arthur Leclerc enjoyed his best qualifying of the year in fifth for Prema.

Leclerc has often shown great race pace, which has put him in title contender but he's struggled over one lap.

Oliver Bearman made it two Premas in the top six ahead of Caio Collet, Kaylen Frederick and Jak Crawford.

Juan Manuel Correa completed the top 10 on his return to the series in the second ART car.

David Vidales was 11th at his home event, just ahead of Zane Maloney, who's under investigation for missing the weighbridge in qualifying.

Franco Colapinto was quick in sector one but couldn't put the lap together, leaving him 13th on the grid.

The Argentine will be hoping that Maloney faces a post-qualifying penalty to move him up to 12th and thus secure reverse grid pole position.

Gregoire Saucy and Oliver Rasmussen completed the top 15 in Barcelona.

Pepe Marti was the second-highest Spaniard in 16th ahead of Reece Ushijima, Rafael Villagomez, Zak O'Sullivan and Hunter Yeany.

Click here for the full F3 qualifying results from Barcelona