Jehan Daruvala scores first FIA Formula 3 Europe pole at Monza

India's 18-year-old Jehan Daruvala scored the first pole position in his rookie season of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship at Monza in Italy today.

Competing for Carlin Racing, the Sahara Force India supported Daruvala scored a 10th, 8th and 6th place finish overall in the first three races of the season at the opening round at Silverstone, England as well as two 'rookie podiums'.

Daruvala's pole position for the first of three races at the Monza round was set ahead of Carlin Racing teammates Lando Norris and Jake Dennis with the race winner from the previous round Callum Illot of Prema Powerteam being beaten by the Carlin Racing trio on the very last lap.

The Monza circuit - venue for the Italian Grand Prix - was also the scene of Daruvala's first pole position in car racing when he was racing int the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup.

A qualifying session will also be held tomorrow in which a driver's two best times will decide his starting position in the second and third races of the weekend.

Daruvala's pole position is the first for an Indian at a major Formula 3 level event since Narain Karthikeyan scored pole for the 2000 Macau Grand Prix, which was also while racing for Carlin Racing.

CLOSE RUN THING
The race itself and the remaining qualifying sessions are likely to be hard-fought between Daruvala and the rest of the FIA F3 field, including his teammates, given the highly competitive nature of the championship.

Daruvala's best time of 1min. 44.105sec. was just 0.030 seconds ahead of teammate and fellow rookie Lando Norris and Jake Dennis was just 0.097 seconds off pole.

The top 13 drivers in the session were covered by just 1.037 seconds.