First pole position for Daniel Juncadella

Action in the 2010 Formula 3 Euro Series started with a surprise: rookie driver Daniel Juncadella (Prema Powerteam, 1:52.624 minutes) claimed pole position for the season opener at the 5.791 kilometres long Le Castellet circuit. In an exciting battle, the Spaniard beat Laurens Vanthoor (Signature, 1:52.750 minutes), Marco Wittmann (Signature, 1:52.754 minutes) and Valtteri Bottas (ART Grand Prix), 1:52.781 minutes.

Daniel Juncadella (E, Prema Powerteam, Dallara F308 Mercedes) Credit: Thomas Suer/Euro F3 Series

In pre-season testing, Juncadella already showed a surprising performance and managed to continue his convincing display in the first qualifying of the season. With a few minutes remaining, he jumped to the top of the time sheets and in the final minutes, no-one succeeded in taking first place away from the rookie driver from the Barcelona region. Belgian Laurens Vanthoor is another novice in the Formula 3 Euro Series to start the first race of the season from the front row of the grid. The two experienced drivers Valtteri Bottas and Edoardo Mortara (Signature, 1:52.834 minutes) still ranked behind Marco Wittmann in fourth and fifth place respectively. The fact that fifth-placed Mortara was only 0.21 seconds slower than fastest driver Daniel Juncadella shows how close it was in qualifying.

Daniel Juncadella (Prema Powerteam): "My first qualifying in the Formula 3 Euro Series and pole position right away, I didn't expect that. In fact, I had hoped for a top five result at best. I already knew parts of the track following a test last week and that certainly helped me today. In qualifying, my car was perfect after we had had some minor problems earlier on."

Laurens Vanthoor (Signature): "After I had wanted to use a slipstream twice before, but didn't succeed, I set my fastest time on my third attempt, all on my own. Too bad, because I could even have been on pole position with a slipstream."

Marco Wittmann (Signature): "I am not entirely happy with my qualifying, but still, anything can happen in the race tomorrow. I think that tomorrow's race can become very exciting, because the track with its very long straight is quite special."

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