Aurelien Panis secures first Formula V8 3.5 win at Aragon

The Frenchman, son of 1996 Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix winner Olivier, made a superior getaway to poleman Tom Dillmann and, after a minor lock-up into Turn 1, pulled away to win by two seconds.

"It was a very hard race with Tom, but my team made a great pitstop," said Panis.

"It's my first win since Moscow in the FR2.0 Eurocup a long time ago [2014], and I am really hopeful we can keep this going."

AVF racer Dillmann shadowed his compatriot throughout.

The leaders were the last competitors to make their mandatory pitstops, coming in for fresh rear Michelins in tandem at the completion of lap 12.

Panis exited the pitlane with an extended advantage, increasing his lead from 0.7 seconds to 1.7s, and thereafter appeared in control to the chequered flag.

"Perhaps I could have pitted one lap later," said Dillmann, "but we were getting near the end of the pit window and the other problem was Arden was in the next pit ahead of us.

"Anyway, I don't think we lost the race in the pits.

"The problem was the start. I struggled all weekend with the clutch.

"Yesterday it was terrible and today only a little better.

"I think it is something mechanical with the clutch that we really need to look into."

After struggles in GP2, Rene Binder claimed third place in his debut weekend in the category for the Charouz-run Lotus team.

The Austrian took advantage of a Turn 1 collision between Saturday's victor Louis Deletraz and race one runner-up Matthieu Vaxiviere to rise from seventh on the grid to third by the conclusion of the opening lap.

The first corner crash resulted in Vaxiviere retiring with damage.

Deletraz was sent spinning down to last place, but made a superb recovery drive to fifth behind Yu Kanamaru.

A fierce battle for fifth disputed between Johnny Cecotto Jr, Alfonso Celis Jr and Deletraz was a highlight of the middle of the race.

Force India Formula 1 test driver Celis lost his left front-wing endplate when Deletraz passed him into the hairpin on lap 15 and cut across his path.

Celis would subsequently fall to eighth, while Cecotto was overtaken by Fortec man Deletraz on the following tour.

Panis leads the FV8 3.5 standings, equal on 35 points with Deletraz and two ahead of Dillmann.

Round two takes place in a week's time at the Hungaroring.

RESULTS - 23 LAPS:

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS