The 19-year-old, making his FIA Euro RX debut at Biķernieki, recovered from a difficult opening qualifying session to win both Q2 and Q3 in impressive style. His two maximum scores helped him end Saturday on 135 qualifying points, giving him the overnight lead ahead of Sunday’s final qualifying session.

Behind him, Volland Racing’s Nicolas Geleyns and Rytis Gurklys are tied on 123 points, with Geleyns holding second place on countback by virtue of faster overall qualifying times. With just 12 points covering the top three, the fight for victory remains finely balanced heading into the final day.

Biķernieki provided a demanding opening test for the Euro RX3 field, with the championship returning to the Latvian venue for the first time since 2022. On a technical, high-commitment layout where margins are fine and track position is critical, both newcomers and established contenders were quickly put under pressure.

Meunier’s day began in spectacular but costly fashion. The two-time French RX3 champion made an aggressive launch into Q1, sending his Audi A1 around the outside into Turn 1, but carried too much speed into the corner and spun, triggering contact with several other drivers. The incident dropped him out of contention for the top three in the opening session and left him with just 35 qualifying points.

The French driver responded immediately in Q2. Again making a rapid start, Meunier took the outside line into Turn 1, this time with greater control, before cutting across the pack to claim the lead. Norwegian youngster Markus Røsrud kept him under pressure in his Škoda Fabia, but Meunier stayed composed to take the session win and secure the maximum 50 qualifying points.

Q3 delivered another strong statement from the Euro RX debutant. Lining up alongside 2025 Euro RX3 runner-up Rytis Gurklys and Nicolas Geleyns, Meunier again launched well in the Audi A1 and claimed the lead after rubbing shoulders with Gurklys into the opening corner. A Turn 1 spin for Gurklys gave Meunier breathing space, but Geleyns remained firmly in pursuit. Despite the pressure, Meunier held his nerve, set the fastest time of the session and added another 50 points to his tally.

Geleyns ended the day second overall after a mixed but ultimately strong Saturday. The Antiguan driver was in the fight from the start but lost ground in Q1 after defending from Gurklys and then coming under attack from Røsrud. The Norwegian attempted a bold move up the inside at Turn 4 on lap three, but with limited space available, contact followed and Røsrud’s Škoda Fabia was briefly tipped onto two wheels. The incident cost both drivers time and left Geleyns fourth in Q1, scoring 33 points.

From there, Geleyns recovered well, finishing second in both Q2 and Q3 to move onto 123 points. His consistency keeps him firmly in the fight, with only Meunier ahead and Gurklys level on points behind him.

Gurklys completed the overnight top three, clearly lifted by a strong contingent of Lithuanian fans in the stands. The 2025 Euro RX3 runner-up delivered a consistent opening day, finishing third in both Q1 and Q2 before taking fifth in Q3 after his Turn 1 setback. His 123-point total leaves him tied with Geleyns, underlining how close the competition is at the front of the Euro RX3 field.

Outside the top three, fellow Lithuanian Audrius Kragas enjoyed a promising start to the weekend. The Škoda Fabia driver impressed in Q1 by taking second place, before finishing fifth and sixth in Q2 and Q3 respectively to hold fourth overnight.

Completing the top five is Portugal’s André Sousa. Last year’s fifth-placed Euro RX3 driver made the most of a chaotic opening qualifying session, keeping out of trouble while others hit problems. Sousa capitalised on early contact involving Václav Tůma, whose Škoda Fabia suffered damage that forced him out of the day’s running, to take the Q1 win and claim the maximum 50 points.

With one final qualifying session remaining before the progression races, the opening round of the FIA Euro RX3 championship is finely poised. Meunier has the advantage, but with Geleyns and Gurklys tied behind him and less than 12 points separating the top three, Sunday at Biķernieki promises a tense fight for victory.

Click here to watch the driver’s reaction to Saturday’s qualifying sessions.

Click here to see the full provisional qualifying classification

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