Prema’s Ralf Aron triumphed at Formula 3’s prestigious Pau Grand Prix, which was shortened due to heavy rain, while Carlin’s Sacha Fenestraz left the opening round atop the standings.
The final season of Formula 3 under its current guise began at the iconic Pau street track, and the first two wins of the weekend were shared between Ferrari protégé Guan Yu Zhou and Renault-backed young gun Fenestraz.
But it was Aron who claimed honours in the third and final race – which acts as the Pau Grand Prix – rising from third to first, where he remained.
Aron did not claim full points, however, as the race was halted before 75 per cent distance due to worsening weather conditions.
“I had a really great car at my disposal,” said Aron.
“Our eventual choice for rain tyres turned out to be the right call. Too bad that only half the points are given as I think we would have deserved the full number of points as well.
“But that is what the regulations are like. Otherwise, I am very happy and proud of our achievement.”
A slick tyre gamble for Fenestraz proved the wrong call but his Race 2 win – and Race 1 fourth – was sufficient for him to depart the season-opening round 2.5 points clear of Aron.
Enaam Ahmed holds third in the standings, having followed up a sixth and a fifth with the runner-up spot in the Grand Prix.
Ahmed started the race from pole position but lost out off the line to Aron, and trailed his rival throughout the shortened event.
Zhou was unable to capitalise on his opening-race win, failing to score a point throughout the rest of the weekend, while Marcus Armstrong, Alex Palou, Dan Ticktum and Jehan Daruvala all took podiums in a weekend in which eight different drivers climbed onto the rostrum.
