Afanasiev returns to top step in IFM

The JD Motorsport driver, who last won in Pau in May 2008 and celebrated his visit to the top step of the podium with a brief Russian dance, took the lead from pole position starter Erik Janis when the lights went out, quickly establishing a small cushion at the front that he converted into victory by 1.5 seconds.

Paul Meijer claimed his best result of the season in second after also jumping Janis at the start, quickly dropping the Czech driver, but proving unable to threaten Afanasiev's lead.

Alex Sims completed an impressive debut weekend with a battling fourth place. The Formula 3 Euro Series regular passed championship leader Fabio Leimer into Turn 1 on lap seven and fended off the Swiss for the rest of the race at the head of a dramatic battle for the lower points-finishing positions.

Earl Bamber, making a return to the category as part of the International Formula Master talent support programme, was in the thick of that battle, ending up sixth.

Two drivers who could have finished fourth failed to reach the end. Yesterday's winner, Josef Kral, retired with a broken left-rear wheel, while Alex Rossi was given a black-and-orange warning flag telling him to head to pits because his front wing was flailing, only for it to fall off moments later.