Jousse tops first practice at Imola

The 23-year-old Frenchman is currently fourth in the championship, but only two points adrift of second-placed Mikhail Aleshin.

Jousse, who took his maiden F2 win at Donington Park in August, swapped fastest times with Tobias Hegewald mid-way through the session before moving four tenths clear with 12 minutes remaining.

His time remained untouched following a red flag stoppage five minutes from the end when Jens Hoing spun off at Tamburello.

The session restarted with just one minute remaining and although several cars took the circuit, there was no time for any improvements - although Carlos Iaconelli did set the fastest first sector time of the session after the chequered flag.

Hegewald kept the second quickest time ahead of Red Bull drivers Mirko Bortolotti and Aleshin. Kazim Vasiliauskas and Milos Pavlovic completed the top six, just ahead of Robert Wickens who is third in the standings.

Championship leader Andy Soucek can wrap up the title if he beats Aleshin, Wickens and Jousse in Saturday's race. He was ninth fastest this morning, behind Tom Gladdis.

Jason Moore did not take to the track after the FIA doctors insisted more strapping be applied to the fractured hand he sustained in an accident at Oschersleben two weeks ago.

Pos Driver                        Time         Gap
 1. Julien Jousse                 1:39.496
 2. Tobias Hegewald               1:39.915  +0.419
 3. Mirko Bortolotti              1:39.943  +0.447
 4. Mikhail Aleshin               1:40.229  +0.733
 5. Kazim Vasiliauskas            1:40.284  +0.788
 6. Milos Pavlovic                1:40.363  +0.867
 7. Robert Wickens                1:40.544  +1.048
 8. Tom Gladdis                   1:40.649  +1.153
 9. Andy Soucek                   1:40.765  +1.269
10. Armaan Ebrahim                1:40.833  +1.337
11. Edoardo Piscopo               1:41.102  +1.606
12. Carlos Iaconelli              1:41.122  +1.626
13. German Sanchez                1:41.415  +1.919
14. Jens Hoing                    1:41.431  +1.935
15. Natacha Gachnang              1:41.513  +2.017
16. Jack Clarke                   1:41.515  +2.019
17. Ollie Hancock                 1:41.525  +2.029
18. Nicola de Marco               1:41.545  +2.049
19. Jolyon Palmer                 1:41.806  +2.310
20. Alex Brundle                  1:42.031  +2.535
21. Sebastian Hohenthal           1:42.688  +3.192
22. Henri Karjalainen             1:43.020  +3.524
23. Pietro Gandolfi               1:43.844  +4.348
24. Philipp Eng                   1:45.143  +5.647
25. Jason Moore                   no time