France top free practice at Taupo
Team France topped A1GP's first free practice session with biofuel thanks to Loic Duval finishing up three tenths ahead of Ireland's Adam Carroll at Taupo, New Zealand
Duval was pleased with the flying start to his favourite A1 weekend.
He said: "For me this is the best country we go to. It feels more like a holiday, it's just perfect."
But the 25-year-old knows the hard work is still to come: "I feel really good here but it means nothing to be on the front row on Friday. It happened many times last year and I didn't get pole position, so that is my target tomorrow."
Series leaders Switzerland were third quickest with Neel Jani just edging out Team Germany's Christian Vietoris, who made his return to the series in fourth.
Team USA were fifth fastest, with Robbie Kerr completing the top six for Great Britain. New Zealand's Jonny Reid was eighth on home soil.
Team Canada's Robert Wickens topped both rookie sessions earlier in the day, ahead of Australian John Martin. Series debutant and home driver Brendon Hartley wound up fifth for Team New Zealand.
Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Loic Duval France 1:15.545 23 2. Adam Carroll Ireland 1:15.799 + 0.254 19 3. Neel Jani Switzerland 1:15.919 + 0.374 19 4. C.Vietoris Germany 1:15.986 + 0.441 23 5. J.Summerton USA 1:16.000 + 0.455 26 6. Robbie Kerr Great Britain 1:16.027 + 0.482 19 7. Robert Wickens Canada 1:16.065 + 0.520 18 8. Jonny Reid New Zealand 1:16.074 + 0.529 29 9. J.Bleekemolen Netherlands 1:16.228 + 0.683 22 10. Adrian Zaugg South Africa 1:16.268 + 0.723 20 11. Edoardo Piscopo Italy 1:16.437 + 0.892 26 12. John Martin Australia 1:16.463 + 0.918 25 13. Sergio Jimenez Brazil 1:16.553 + 1.008 28 14. Alex Yoong Malaysia 1:16.574 + 1.029 27 15. N.Karthikeyan India 1:16.590 + 1.045 25 16. Chris Alajajian Lebanon 1:16.777 + 1.232 20 17. David Garza Mexico 1:16.810 + 1.265 23 18. Tomas Enge Czech Republic 1:16.967 + 1.422 25 19. Joao Urbano Portugal 1:17.089 + 1.544 30 20. Cheng Cong Fu China 1:17.316 + 1.771 27 21. Adam Khan Pakistan 1:17.674 + 2.129 26 22. Satrio Hermanto Indonesia 1:18.285 + 2.740 26
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