F3: Ericsson takes the lead

Marcus Ericsson, champion of F3 in Japan this season, gained the upper hand over his opponents this Thursday. Successor to Keisuke Kunimoto, winner last year in Macau, within the Tom?s team, the Swede was able to be the fastest during the first day of driving in the streets of the former Portuguese province.

During the first free practice session, Marcus Ericsson beat Edoardo Mortara (Signature) by more than half a second, while the two drivers of the Red Bull Junior Team of the Carlin team, Brendon Hartley et Daniel Ricciardo, placed third and fourth. The French Jules Bianchi (ART Grand Prix) and Jean-Karl Vernay (Signature) only climbed to 9th and 11th place.

Marcus Ericsson, during the first round of the qualifying session, again set the best time (2:11:811), beating Daniel Ricciardo by less than half a tenth. Edoardo Mortara completes the podium in this first round, while the session was stopped one minute and a half from the end of the countdown, due to the accident of Belgian Laurent Vanthoor (Signature), German F3 champion.

French coast, satisfactions are limited. If Jean-Karl Vernay finished ninth, one second behind Marcus Ericsson's best time, Jules Bianchi was unable to compete due to a loosening wheel. The second round of this qualification will take place on Friday, at 7:45 a.m. (French time), and will establish the starting grid for the Macau Grand Prix. The drivers will first have half an hour of free practice to adjust their cars.