Thrilling title battle goes on to Circuit Paul Ricard

The famous race track in Provence will host round three of the Euroformula Open and no fewer than 23 Dallara-built cars will line-up. 14 different nationalities among teams and drivers are expected on the starting grid.

Despite characteristic spring mild temperatures, the Euroformula Open is now in the hot phase and the French venue, taking place at Circuit Paul Ricard, marks the third round of the season. Both Estoril and Spa-Francorchamps brought out the very best of Formula 3 racing with four action-packed races. The Euroformula Open, which provides a key rung on the single-seater ladder leading to F.1, will enter French territory in Le Castellet. Built by French pastis magnate Paul Ricard, the eponymous circuit expects another close battle at the front.

Italy´s Leonardo Pulcini (Campos Racing) ranks first in drivers´ standings on 89 points. With two wins to his name, Pulcini is ahead of Briton Jack Aitken (RP Motorsport) and Austrian Ferdinand Habsburg (Drivex). Mexico´s Diego Menchaca (Campos Racing) and Damiano Fioravanti (RP Motorsport) are two other drivers in the five. Much in the same way, rookies´ and teams´ classifications are closely fought. At the moment, Habsburg and Campos Racing sit first in their respective standings.

RP Motosport´s five car team will be entered again at Paul Ricard. Fioravanti, Thailand´s duo of Tanart Sathinethirakul and Kantadhee Kusiri and Poland´s Antoni Ptak will be joined by a fifth top-class driver, who will be announced shortly. As planned, Aitken won´t contest this weekend´s French round of the Euroformula Open due to his 2016 double program. The new driver is also expected to make his mark in the series.

Campos Racing´s four-car armada is enjoying a promising season so far. As mentioned above, Pulcini lies first with his record of two wins and two second places in four races. On the other hand, Menchaca also stepped onto the rostrum and the Ardennes saw a flash of talent coming from Ecuador´s Julio Moreno, who took 3rd spot in Q2. Azerbaijan´s motorsport pioneer Gulhuseyn Abdullayev completes the driver line-up.

Spain-based Teo Martin Motorsport will enter three cars for Mexico´s José Manuel Vilalta, Russia´s Nikita Zlobin and his fellow countryman Vladimir Atoev. Atoev, another of the emerging stars in Russia, finished second in the SMP F4 Championship last year and is set for his F3 debut at Paul Ricard. Colombian Tatiana Calderón will miss this round but she will return to the team later this season.

Carlin Motorsport and its trio of young drivers continue taking the right steps on their debut in the series. Trevor Carlin´s outfit has already proven to be they are genuine podium challengers. USA´s Colton Herta and Germany-born racer Keyvan Andres have achieved several point finishes and their first podiums are on the verge. Equally, India´s Ameya Vaidyanathan is having a solid run and makes progress every weekend.

Matteo Davenia and DAV Racing will have another three-car assault in Le Castellet. China´s Kang Ling and Italy´s Daniele Cazzaniga will team up with a third driver to be announced. Cazzaniga pocked his first points in Portugal and Ling aims for that goal next weekend.

Drivex and Ferdinand Habsburg are a force in title race. Habsburg, on his first full-season campaign in the series, and Drivex are one of the strongest combinations to date. The Austrian shone last weekend in Monaco, in the F. Renault 2.0 Eurocup, by finishing 2nd after taking the pole. A second Dallara car under the Madrid-based team will be entered in France. His driver will be revealed soon.

Fortec Motorsports and Igor Walilko set for a podium finish. Several incidents interrupted previous Walilko´s rostrum charges but the Polish driver, who claimed two podium finishes last year, is always among quickest out there.

BVM and Russia´s Daniil Pronenko had a positive first outing together in Euroformula Open´s Winter Series stop at Paul Ricard. Pronenko will be another of the illustrious names fighting for the top-ten.

Team West-Tec will field its Dallara F312 for Chinese competitor Alex Liang once again. Liang, who made his debut in the series last month, had his first taste of Formula 3 racing at Paul Ricard in March, which is a good basis to build upon.

The Paul Ricard premium race programme includes the Euroformula Open and its sister series, the International GT Open, the SEAT León Eurocup and the Radical European Masters.

All the action can be followed from fans at home thanks to live coverage by major national broadcasters in key countries such as UK (BT Sport), Italy (Fox Sports 2), Spain (Teledeporte and Canal + Deportes), Portugal (Sport TV), Russia (Poverkhnost Sport) and Central Europe (Digisport), among others. In addition, pan-European coverage is ensured by Motors TV (43 countries). Races are also livestreamed with English commentary by Ben Evans on our website http://www.euroformulaopen.net

 

Euroformula Open, June 2-5 (Local time):

Friday:

Free practice 1 09.00-09.30

Free practice 2 11.30-12.00

Free practice 3 16.00-16.30

 

Saturday:

Qualifying 1 10.25-10.55

Race 1 15.15 (15 laps – max. 35´)

 

Sunday:

Qualifying 2 09.30-10.00

Race 2 13.15 (15 laps – max. 35´)