Ericsson confident after taking pole

The 19-year-old Swede, who won this year's Japanese Formula 3 championship, secured pole position with a late effort in Friday's qualifying session - before swiping his rear wing off in a collision with the barriers after he pushed too hard on the following lap.

With his car to be easily repaired in time for tomorrow's qualification race, Ericsson has said that the pace shown so far by TOM's has left him optimistic about maintaining his strong run of form.

"I am feeling confident," he said. "I know we are quick and we are strong, but it is going to be tough.

"I know starting from pole position is not always an advantage here, but we will see how the start goes and try and be in the top positions in the first race.

"Then we will try and win the second one. It has already been a tough weekend and there is still quite a way to go, but we got one part of it done, so it feels good."

Ericsson said that his crash on the lap after his pole position effort was simply the result of trying to find more time - having eked out just a 0.039s advantage over second fastest Jean-Karl Vernay.

"I was pushing quite hard and had got pole," Ericsson said. "Then I went on the radio and they said it was really tight as the other guys are quick. So I tried to push a bit harder and then I went in the wall. It was okay. I bent a wishbone, but it was not a problem. I am looking good for tomorrow.

"I am here with probably the best team in the world and I am very proud to be a part of that. We've had a good weekend so far. Yesterday was very good, today was a bit more tough - but that is because the entry list this year is really amazing. There are a lot of good drivers, but we've had two good days and to be standing on top after the important qualifying is really great."