Aron wins rain-hit final Pau European F3 race for Prema

The Estonian's victory counts for half-points only, as the race had not reached 75% distance.

Aron burst through from third on the grid to beat wheelspinning poleman Enaam Ahmed into the first corner, while Ahmed's Hitech GP team-mate Alex Palou stalled from the other front-row position.

Palou had insult added to injury later when, running outside the points, he was given a drive-through penalty for being out of position when he stalled.

Aron kept reigning BRDC British F3 champion Ahmed at arm's length over the eight laps of racing before the safety car was called.

This was due to a crash on the pit straight involving Marcus Armstrong and Ferdinand Habsburg as they ran 10th and 11th respectively.

While the marshals cleared the wreckage, the rain became torrential, leading to the decision to suspend the race - with no improvement likely for over an hour - the race was called and a result declared.

"The start was great, the car was really good and I'm really confident in changing conditions," said Aron.

"It was hectic for us because I went out on slicks because we thought it was going to dry out.

"Then on the grid I was screaming, 'The clouds are coming, put on rains', and then I had to try to get them warm on the formation lap.

"I'm a little bit bummed that we couldn't get full points - the team deserved it.

"'In my opinion we could have done two more laps under the safety car - we were close to 75% distance."

Carlin's Force India protege Jehan Daruvala completed the podium, despite clipping a cone at the final chicane, beating Motopark racer Fabio Scherer into the first corner for third position.

Race two winner Sacha Fenestraz was the only driver to take the start on slick tyres, but the worsening rain on the formation lap doomed his decision, and after getting to the first corner in fifth place he pitted for wet-weather rubber.

Due to the half-points, Fenestraz retains a championship lead he would have lost to Aron had the race gone full-distance.

Red Bull Junior Dan Ticktum, who had suffered brake-bias problems in qualifying, ran a distant fifth, with Prema duo Robert Shwartzman and Mick Schumacher behind him.

Jonathan Aberdein (Motopark) and Ben Hingeley (Hitech) were eighth and ninth, while the Armstrong/Habsburg incident promoted Motopark's Marino Sato to the final half-point.

Armstrong had been seventh at the first corner, but hit the barrier exiting Gare and lost positions.

Result - 11 laps

Drivers' standings