Debut win for Pic at Monte Carlo
Charles Pic mastered the hazards of a wet Monaco to claim his first Formula Renault 3.5 series victory
Starting from pole, the 18-year-old had the added advantage of increased visibility over his pursuers, but his superlative, attacking, drive was further endorsed by fastest lap.
Championship leader Giedo van der Garde pressured Pic throughout, but was unable to ruffle the level-headed Frenchman. Van der Garde closed up on the Pic on each of the race's restarts from safety car periods, but never threatened to make a convincing challenge for the lead.
"When I arrived here I wasn't thinking about winning," said Pic. "But after taking an unexpected pole, I had to concentrate on doing my best job."
Fairuz Fauzy was unable to keep pace with the leading duo, but maintained the third place he achieved in qualifying to finish on the podium on his return to the championship.
Pic's Tech 1 team-mate Julien Jousse finished fourth ahead of Bertrand Baguette.
Baguette had the distinction of completing the only overtaking manoeuvre among the top 10, when he passed Mikhail Aleshin around the outside of Ste Devote as the race turned green on lap three.
The race began under safety car conditions, to minimise the risk of carnage, but it was required on two further occasions in the race. The first when Aleix Alcaraz crashed at Tabac, and the second, on lap 19, held the field at bay until the race met its 44-minute time limit two tours later.
Mario Romancini had found the barriers at Massenet, forcing Marco Barba to park up behind in avoiding action. The chasing Pasquale di Sabatino was caught unawares and punted the rear of Barba's car into Romancini's stricken Epsilon machine.
The tangled wreckage proved time consuming for the marshals to separate, ensuring Pic the win.
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Charles Pic Tech 1 43:29.295
2. Giedo van der Garde P1 +0.590
3. Fairuz Fauzy Fortec +1.649
4. Julien Jousse Tech 1 +2.442
5. Bertrand Baguette Draco +3.155
6. Mikhail Aleshin Carlin +4.291
7. Guillaume Moreau KTR +5.393
8. James Walker Fortec +6.670
9. Miguel Molina Prema +7.913
10. Maximo Cortes Pons +9.017
11. Borja Garcia RC +10.524
12. Fabio Carbone Ultimate +11.232
13. Marco Bonanomi Comtec +13.073
14. Alvaro Barba Prema +15.074
15. Marcos Martinez Pons +16.744
16. Salvador Duran Interwetten +17.639
17. Claudio Cantelli Ultimate +18.578
18. Pippa Mann P1 +19.412
19. Robert Wickens Carlin +23.716
20. Alex Marsoin Epsilon +24.807
21. Pablo Sanchez Interwetten +1 Lap
22. Daniil Move KTR +1 Lap
Retirements
Pos Driver Team Laps
Mario Romancini Epsilon 18 laps
Marco Barba Draco 18 laps
Pasquale di Sabatino Comtec 18 laps
Aleix Alcaraz RC 12 laps
Fastest lap, Pic 1:44.839
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