F3 Euroseries news

Bianchi on pole in France

Champion elect Jules Bianchi has placed himself in the ideal position to seal the title in his home nation this weekend by successfully claiming pole position at Dijon on Friday. With compatriot Vernay confirming an all-French front row and Finns Bottas and Mäki next up, the top four display an ART-Signature symmetry on the grid.         

With his fifth pole position in the 2009 Formula 3 Euro Series, Bianchi got himself into a good position for the battle for the title at the 3.801 kilometre-long track at Dijon-Prenois. Now, the Frenchman is 24 points clear of his title rival Christian Vietoris (Mücke Motorsport, 1:10.905), who ended up only seventh fastest.

Second place in qualifying went to Jean Karl Vernay (Signature, 1:10.502), followed by the two Finns Valtteri Bottas (ART Grand Prix, 1:10.523) and Mika Mäki (Signature, 1:10.773). Thus, the first two grid rows for the 17th season round are occupied by two race cars with Mercedes and two with Volkswagen engines.

Andrea Caldarelli (SG Formula, 1:10.809) confirmed his upward trend by qualifying fifth. The Italian is the second-best rookie behind Bottas and demoted fellow rookie Marco Wittmann (Mücke Motorsport, 1:11.469) to sixth place. After only a few minutes, qualifying had to be interrupted for 15 as Esteban Gutierrez's ART hit the barriers with the driver escaping unscathed.

"Things went very well for me today," smiled pole winner Bianchi. "Above all, it's a good step towards the decision for the title; but still, nothing has been decided yet - tomorrow I will do my best, as ever."

more news

• 21 Nov.
  • Vernay grateful for second Safety Car
  • Vernay takes Macau qualification race
• 20 Nov.
  • Ericsson grabs Macau pole
  • Official: Bianchi handed Ferrari test
• 19 Nov.
  • Ericsson fastest in first Macau qualifying
• 18 Nov.
  • 'Bianchi to test Ferrari at Jerez'
• 02 Nov.
  • Rosenzweig tests for Fortec
• 25 Oct.
  • Vernay wins chaotic last race of the season
  • Photos: Sunday at Hockenheim
• 24 Oct.
  • Photos: Saturday at Hockenheim
  • Bianchi wins as ART takes teams' title
• 23 Oct.
  • Photos: Friday at Hockenheim
  • Bianchi on pole at Hockenheim
  • Vernay fastest in Hockenheim practice
• 20 Oct.
  • DAMS confirms Vietoris and Piscopo
  • Bortolotti joins Carlin for Hockenheim finale
• 17 Oct.
  • Bird joins ART for GP2 Asia Series
• 13 Oct.
  • Bianchi joins GP2 with ART
• 11 Oct.
  • Bianchi claims title with win at Dijon-Prenois
  • Photos: Sunday at Dijon
• 10 Oct.
  • Vietoris wins to keep championship alive
• 09 Oct.
  • Photos: Friday at Dijon
  • Bianchi on pole in France
  • ART leads first Dijon practice
• 08 Oct.
  • Bianchi not distracted by title prospects
• 20 Sep.
  • Van der Zande wins second Barcelona race
• 19 Sep.
  • Photos: Saturday in Barcelona
  • Bianchi claims another win in Spain
• 18 Sep.
  • Photos: Friday in Barcelona
  • Bianchi on pole in Barcelona
  • Tandy fastest in first Barcelona session
• 15 Sep.
  • Van der Zande returns to F3 Euroseries
• 08 Sep.
  • Bird: Brands doesn't love me!
• 06 Sep.
  • Hartley and Carlin celebrate maiden win
  • Photos: Sunday at Brands Hatch
• 05 Sep.
  • Mäki wins delayed first race at Brands Hatch
  • Photos: Saturday at Brands Hatch
  • Race 1 stopped for Bianchi and Geronimi crash
• 04 Sep.
  • Bottas confident after Friday
  • Photos: Friday at Brands Hatch

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