F3000 CHAMPIONSHIP - QUALIFYING, MAGNY COURS.
PATRICK FRIESACHER (RED BULL - JUNIOR TEAM F3000): “THIRD PLACE – SECOND ROW. HAPPY TO BE ON TOP AGAIN!”
TEAM-MATE RICARDO MAURICIO ON 12TH POSITION AFTER QUALIFYING. 
POLE-MAN: TOMAS ENGE (CZ)

The return into his „second home-country France” seems to be quiet good for Patrick Friesacher. The 20-years-old Carinthian, still youngest driver of the F3000 championship, found his form even here at the circuit of Magny Cours, where he could win one race of the French Fromula 3-B-championship in 1999.

The Red Bull Junior will start into tomorrows race from third postiton and second row. Patrick`s third top-three qualifying result after Imola and Spielberg.

Like most of the pilots, Patrick also drove his personal fastest lap at the first minutes of the first session – the circuit became slower and slower, even at the second session around 6 p.m.

Patrick F.: „For sure, I am happy with the result. It´s good for me as a rookie, to be back in the first two or three rows. We have to do something overnight on our race set-up. But the most important thing tomorrow will be my start and my first lap - again and again and again!”

Team-mate Ricardo Mauricio did not find his rythm at the first session – at the second session, there were no chance to come closer. Disappointing position 12 for the Red Bull Junior from Brazil.

Qualifying – Magny Cours.

1. Tomas ENGE CZ Nordic Racing 1.27,436
2. Mark WEBBER AUS Super Nova Racing +0,573
3. Patrick FRIESACHER AUT Red Bull Junior Team F3000 +0,779
4. Justin WILSON GB Nordic Racing +0,785
5. Mario HABERFELD BRA Super Nova Racing +0,978
6. David SAELENS BEL European Minardi +1,007
7. Sebastian BOURDAIS F DAMS +1,200
8. Darren MANNING GB Arden Team Russia +1,272
12. Ricardo MAURICIO BRA Red Bull Junior Team F3000 +1,347

More: www.redbull-juniorteam.com, www.redbull-f3000.com

Red Bull Junior Team F3000 –  Media, Thomas Blazek, beta Communications,
Steinfeldstraße 17/2/11, A-2351  Wr.Neudorf,
Tel.: +43 2236 24744, +43 664 300 50 40,  Fax: +43 2236 252 68, E-Mail: blazek@betacom.at