Christian Vietoris has forced F3 Euroseries champion-elect Jules Bianchi to wait a little longer to be crowned this year's winner after winning the first race of the weekend at Dijon.

The German, who started in seventh position, was running fifth when he capitalised on a botched restart for early leader Bianchi, the Frenchman being forced to lift off down the long home straight.

Using the slipstream to move from fifth to first, Vietoris would hold the position to the chequered flag to ensure he keeps his title dreams alive for at least one more race.

“At last, I was able to make use of our speed in a race on Saturday and I have managed to take my first-ever win on Saturday in the Formula 3 Euro Series. Unfortunately, it is probably a little bit too late, because there will hardly be a way to beat Jules for the title.”

Bianchi followed him in second position, the Frenchman disappointed at not being able to take victory on home ground.

“Starting from pole and then finishing second is never great. Today, we simply weren't fast enough and I don't know what the reason was. At the re-start, I also made a mistake. I accelerated too early and had to lift once again. Thus, Christian overtook me.”

Mika Maki completed the podium as the only Volkswagen driver to finish inside the points, while Andres Calderelli backed up his maiden points finish last time out in Barcelona to finish well again in fourth.

Roberto Merhi was fifth for Manor, ahead of Sam Bird and Christopher Zanella, while Alex Sims will start from pole position in race two after battling his way up from 15th on the grid to finish in eighth.