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FR3.5 Paul Ricard: Kevin Magnussen quickest in Friday practice

Kevin Magnussen set the pace during Formula Renault 3.5 free practice at Paul Ricard on Friday

The Carlin driver, who lost victory last time out at the Hungaroring on the final lap when his gearbox broke, moved to the top of the times in France just before the afternoon session entered its final five minutes.

Magnussen's effort demoted Alexander Rossi to second, after the American had taken top spot from title contender Sam Bird 10 minutes earlier.

A late improvement from Nick Yelloly completed a good day for the Briton. The Comtec driver had led the way in the morning session, which took place in sunnier conditions than the afternoon running.

Yelloly's time dropped championship leader Robin Frijns to fourth. The Dutchman did at least get ahead of title rival Bird near the end, but he had to return to the pits with the help of a tow-truck after stopping at Turn 2 in the closing moments of the day's running.

Rossi's team-mate Antonio Felix da Costa completed a good day for Arden Caterham in sixth. That meant the team, which took its first win last time out, had both cars in the top six in both sessions.

The championship's other contender, Ferrari junior Jules Bianchi, had a quiet day. After setting the 13th quickest time in the morning, he spent much of the afternoon session towards the bottom of the times. He got as high as 11th during his final run, but eventually ended up 15th.

Afternoon practice:

Pos  Driver                  Team            Time       Gap
 1.  Kevin Magnussen         Carlin          1m47.416s
 2.  Alexander Rossi         Arden Caterham  1m47.657s  + 0.241s
 3.  Nick Yelloly            Comtec          1m47.659s  + 0.243s
 4.  Robin Frijns            Fortec          1m48.017s  + 0.601s
 5.  Sam Bird                ISR             1m48.027s  + 0.611s
 6.  Antonio Felix da Costa  Arden Caterham  1m48.044s  + 0.628s
 7.  Carlos Huertas          Fortec          1m48.184s  + 0.768s
 8.  Mikhail Aleshin         RFR             1m48.211s  + 0.795s
 9.  Andre Negrao            Draco           1m48.309s  + 0.893s
10.  Nico Muller             Draco           1m48.345s  + 0.929s
11.  Davide Rigon            BVM Target      1m48.392s  + 0.976s
12.  Marco Sorensen          Lotus           1m48.420s  + 1.004s
13.  Arthur Pic              DAMS            1m48.438s  + 1.022s
14.  Daniil Move             P1              1m48.464s  + 1.048s
15.  Jules Bianchi           Tech 1          1m48.497s  + 1.081s
16.  Lucas Foresti           DAMS            1m48.583s  + 1.167s
17.  Jake Rosenzweig         ISR             1m48.698s  + 1.282s
18.  Daniel Abt              Tech 1          1m48.783s  + 1.367s
19.  Vittorio Ghirelli       Comtec          1m49.266s  + 1.850s
20.  Aaro Vainio             RFR             1m49.390s  + 1.974s
21.  Kevin Korjus            Lotus           1m49.562s  + 2.146s
22.  Nikolay Martsenko       BVM Target      1m49.586s  + 2.170s
23.  Walter Grubmuller       P1              1m49.772s  + 2.356s
24.  Yann Cunha              Pons            1m49.829s  + 2.413s
25.  Zoel Amberg             Pons            1m51.011s  + 3.595s
26.  Will Stevens            Carlin

Morning times:

Pos  Driver                  Team            Time       Gap
 1.  Nick Yelloly            Comtec          1m48.964s
 2.  Arthur Pic              DAMS            1m49.222s  + 0.258s
 3.  Alexander Rossi         Arden Caterham  1m49.418s  + 0.454s
 4.  Kevin Magnussen         Carlin          1m49.426s  + 0.462s
 5.  Sam Bird                ISR             1m49.493s  + 0.529s
 6.  Antonio Felix da Costa  Arden Caterham  1m49.628s  + 0.664s
 7.  Kevin Korjus            Lotus           1m49.661s  + 0.697s
 8.  Nico Muller             Draco           1m49.677s  + 0.713s
 9.  Vittorio Ghirelli       Comtec          1m49.750s  + 0.786s
10.  Carlos Huertas          Fortec          1m49.920s  + 0.956s
11.  Aaro Vainio             RFR             1m49.944s  + 0.980s
12.  Mikhail Aleshin         RFR             1m50.015s  + 1.051s
13.  Jules Bianchi           Tech 1          1m50.064s  + 1.100s
14.  Andre Negrao            Draco           1m50.310s  + 1.346s
15.  Robin Frijns            Fortec          1m50.374s  + 1.410s
16.  Marco Sorensen          Lotus           1m50.383s  + 1.419s
17.  Daniil Move             P1              1m50.451s  + 1.487s
18.  Daniel Abt              Tech 1          1m50.559s  + 1.595s
19.  Davide Rigon            BVM Target      1m50.577s  + 1.613s
20.  Walter Grubmuller       P1              1m50.584s  + 1.620s
21.  Jake Rosenzweig         ISR             1m50.752s  + 1.788s
22.  Lucas Foresti           DAMS            1m51.261s  + 2.297s
23.  Nikolay Martsenko       BVM Target      1m51.540s  + 2.576s
24.  Will Stevens            Carlin          1m51.721s  + 2.757s
25.  Yann Cunha              Pons            1m51.974s  + 3.010s
26.  Zoel Amberg             Pons

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