Charles Pic managed to secure his first win of the season at Silverstone on Sunday in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series and thereby put an end to his poor run of luck.

The Frenchman, who started from pole position, led the 28 lap race from start-to-finish. Indeed off the line the Tech 1 Racing team took control, Pic maintaining P1, while Brendon Harley, in the sister car, left James Walker standing and moved up to second.

While Pic now began to pull away though, Hartley was busy trying to contain Walker, Oliver Turvey and Fairuz Fauzy.

Meanwhile just behind the foursome, Marcos Martinez led the main field of drivers, in tight formation as far back as Adrian Zaugg in twelfth.

The first of the leaders to go in for the compulsory pit stop was Walker, who changed two of his wheels.

Pic at this point was pushing hard and he put in a series of fast laps. He was five seconds ahead of Hartley when his colleague stormed into the pits. The New Zealander was to see his chances ruined though, picking up a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pitlane.

Pic and Turvey were among the last drivers to stop, and when the Frenchman came back out he was still in first - and ahead of Walker.

A fierce duel between British drivers then ensued for the prize of second place, as Turvey got closer and closer, while further back, Fauzy was now fourth ahead of Martinez and Baguette.

With 15 minutes to go, Baguette managed to oust the Formula Renault 3.5 Series leader from fifth place, but despite attacks from Turvey on Walker and from Martinez on Baguette, the order was to remain the same right up to chequered flag.

Pic thus put an end to his disappointing form this season, and claimed his first victory of the year. He was delighted and still believes he has a chance in the drivers' championship.

“The season started poorly, but we were never discouraged,” said Pic. “This win does us a lot of good, for me just like for all the team. The start of the race went very well, the end was tougher. We'd opted for a quick car at the beginning.

“The championship is still a possibility for me. We've got to repeat this at Le Mans.”