Cochet victorious in Pau F3.

French drivers dominated the Pau F3 classic, taking a one-two finish around the streets of the Pyrenees town.

Leading all the way from pole position, Jonathan Cochet headed off the perceived threat of rivals from the British and German series to win the prestigious event - which replaced Monaco as one of the jewels in the Formula Three crown when F3000 joined the grand prix support package.

Signature Elf team-mate Mathieu Zangarelli had the chance to make it a 1-2 for the French outfit, but made a mistake on lap 26 which dropped him back down the order to an eventual sixth place. The error allowed fellow countryman Tiago Monteiro into runner-up spot at the chequered flag, after the three French drivers had battled with Brazilian sensation Antonio Pizzonia.

The Manor Motorsport driver's hopes of winning disappeared with his power, however, and Pizzonia could do little but watch as the field sped past his slowing Dallara with just four laps to run. His demise - which relegated him to 20th place in the final results - allowed German frontrunner Patrick Freisacher to claim a podium position ahead of Japanese hope Ryo Fukuda.

Best British series runners were, ironically, the two RC Benetton drivers, with Nicolas Kiesa benefiting from the problems to beset Zangarelli and Pizzonia to finish fifth. Team-mate Milos Pavlovich started well, passing the Dane on lap one to claim seventh, but gradually began to suffer from the leg injury he received in a morning warm-up accident, and only maintained his position due to the retirements ahead of him.

The second Manor Motorsport car of Juan Manuel Lopez finished tenth, while the sole Carlin Motorsport finisher was Ben Collins in 13th. Team-mate Takuma Sato did not finish, while Rowan Racing duo finished well down the order. Fellow Briton Adam Jones finished twelfth - and best of the La Filiere runners.

Race result - Pau F3.

1. Jonathan Cochet Signature Elf
2. Tiago Monteiro ASM Elf
3. Patrick Freisacher Opel Team BSR

4. Ryo Fukuda LD Autosport
5. Nicolas Kiesa RC Benetton
6. Mathieu Zangarelli Signature Elf
7. Milos Pavlovich RC Benetton
8. Andre Lotterer Opel Team BSR
9. Paulo Montin Target Racing
10. Juan Manuel Lopez Manor Motorsport

11. Lucas Lasserre LD Autosport
12. Adam Jones La Filiere
13. Ben Collins Carlin Motorsport
14. Philip Giebler La Filiere
15. James Andanson La Filiere
16. Marcos Ambrose Mygale
17. Roman Dumas La Filiere
18. Julian Piguet EMC2 Mygale
19. Frederic Makowiecki Griffiths
20. Antonio Pizzonia Manor Motorsport
21. Warren Carway Rowan Racing
22. Yannick Schroeder Promatecme
23. Martin O'Connell Rowan Racing
24. Davide Uboldi Uboldi Corse
25. Tristan Gommendy ASM Elf
26. Julien Beltoise ASM Elf
27. Ying Kin Lee La Filiere
28. Pierre Gilbert Griffiths

Dnf. Takuma Sato Carlin Motorsport

[Result and details courtesy of RC Benetton Junior Team]