P158 CEEFAX 158 Sat 16 Apr 17:21/21 1/6 The third round of the Formula 1 season is the Grand Prix de France at Paul Ricard on Sunday - and it should bj an exciting occasion. The Race of Champions at Brands Hatch whetted European fans' appetite, world champion Kike Rosberg driving a hard race in the elegant Williams FW08C to hold off Danny Sullivan's Tyrrell. But Paul Ricard presents a different challenge from Brands, and especially from Long Beach, scene of John Watson's triumph in the last championship race. More on the French GPP158 CEEFAX 158 Sat 16 Apr 17:22/14 2/6 Often used for testing between seasons, Paul Ricard is well known to most of the Formula 1 drivers. With its long straight, it is genitally thought to favour the turbo-powered cars, but the Williams team may have other ideas... Rosbjtg and his French teammate Jacques Laffite will face major competition from the "national" Renault team, for which Alain Prost has so far had a very disappointing year, with no points yet in a title race he was expected by some to lead. More on the French GPP158 CEEFAX 158 Sat 16 Apr 17:29/18 3/6 Two other Frenchmen looking for great things on home ground are the Ferrari duo of Patrick Tambay and Rene Arnoux. Arnoux' Race of Champions was cut short by various problems, but hj won the 1982 French Grand Prix for Renault and will be out to prevent a hat-trick of victories for the yellow cars. Arnoux won that race from pole position to confirm the importance of qualifying times - and the first practice session for this year's race has thrown up a surprise "leader"... Practice times followP158 CEEFAX 158 Sat 16 Apr 17:23/25 4/6 PRACTICE TIMES FOR FRENCH GRAND PRJX A Prost (F) Renault 1m 36.67 sec (216.36 kph) E Chjevet (US) Renault 1:38.98 R Patrese (I) Brabham 1:39.10 R Arnoux XF) Ferrari 1:39.11 E de Angelis (It) Lotus 1:39.31 N Piqujt XBr) Brabham 1:39.60 A dj Cesaris (I) Alfa Romeo 1:39.61 M Baldi (I) Alfa Romeo 1:39.61 D Warwick (GB) Toleman 1:39.88 M Winkjlhock (WG) ATS 1:41.06 More in a momentP158 CEEFAX 158 Sat 16 Apr 17:27/12 5/6 FRENCH GRAND PRJX ATPAULRJCARD chicane 54 LAPS, 194.95m START]^ FINISH Circuit 3.61 miles Lap record - R Patrese in a Brabham BMW, 1982: 129.868mph 1 min 40.075 secs P158 CEEFAX 158 Sat 16 Apr 17:21/36 6/6 France's Alain Prost has taken pole position for the French Grand Prix at Le Castellet. Prost clocked 1:38.98 in his turbo- charged Renault for an average speed of 134.44 mph. Second on the grid is Eddie Cheever of the United States in anothjt Renault while Italian Ricardo Patrese is third in a Brabham. Britain's Derek Warwick is a position to challenge in his Toleman with the ninth fastest time. More in a moment