Fabio Leimer dominated the opening International Formula Master race of the season at Pau on Saturday.
The Swiss driver started from pole position but had to fend off an attack from fellow front row starter Josef Kral into Turn 1. Kral pulled ahead of Leimer on the outside but snatched a brake on the way into the corner and slid into the tyre wall.
The left Leimer to claim an uncontested victory as he charged away from the chasing pack and built a 15-second lead by the end of the 37-lap race.
"It was really close at the start with Kral, he nearly overtook me," said Leimer. "After that it wasn't so difficult for me because there was nobody close so I could drive my own race."
Vladimir Arabadzhiev and Pal Varhaug completed the podium, each maintaining their positions after inheriting one spot from Kral at the first corner.
Alessandro Kouzkin finished fourth after pursuing Jonathan Kennard for the entire race and demoting the Briton on the final lap. Latvian Harald Schlegelmilch completed the top six on his category debut.
Results to follow