After ending Saturday at the top of the standings taking  back-to-back qualifying heats , the 19-year-old entered Sunday under intense pressure from Nicolas Geleyns and Rytis Gurklys, with less than 12 points separating the top three overnight. However, Meunier once again delivered under pressure in Q4, producing another front-running performance to secure pole position heading into the semi-finals, further underlining the pace he had shown throughout the weekend.

The Frenchman carried that momentum into the knockout stages. In the first  Semi-Final, Meunier kept his nose clean with another superb launch off the line managing the race from the front while several other drivers had contact. Behind him, fellow Frenchman Dylan Dufas fought hard to stay in contention, but Meunier’s consistency and clean execution once again proved decisive as he comfortably booked his place in the final. The contacts at the start delivered plenty of drama leading to a red flag which resulted in a delayed session. At the restart, Meunier managed to position his Audi A1 perfectly into Turn 1 and once again took the lead after a brief battle with Andre Sousa. At the end of the session, Meunier secured the top spot followed by Geleyns and Sousa, while both Røsrud and Sousa went off at the last corner of the last lap.

Semi-Final 2 delivered equally fierce competition, with Lithuanians Gurklys and Kragas battling intensely for track position in front of a passionate Latvian crowd. Lithuania’s Gurklys eventually emerged on top, after another eventful session that saw all 6 drivers fighting closely with one another.

By the time the Euro RX3 final lined up on Sunday afternoon, the tension around the Biķernieki track was palpable. Meunier started from pole position alongside Lithuania’s Gurklys, knowing victory would complete one of the most impressive debut weekends seen in recent Euro RX3 history. As the lights went out, the Frenchman battled with the Lithuanian, eventually dropping down to P3. He showcased his talent by skilfully climbing back through the grid and overtaking Gurklys on the outside of Turn 1, offering a masterclass in manoeuvring to the Latvian crowd. Meunier then crossed the line on the following lap to secure his maiden FIA Euro RX3 victory and cap off a sensational championship debut weekend.

The result marks a remarkable turnaround for Meunier, whose weekend had begun with a dramatic spin and contact in Saturday’s opening qualifying heat. From that moment onwards, however, the French youngster consistently looked like the driver to beat – winning multiple qualifying sessions, controlling his semi-final and ultimately delivering a composed, mature performance in the final to secure victory on debut.

The Frenchman was followed by Lithuania’s Rytis  Gurklys. Having lost ground on Saturday following his Turn 1 spin in Q3, the 2025 Euro RX3 runner-up bounced back strongly on Sunday morning to keep himself firmly in contention entering the progression races. Gurklys then battled his way through Semi-Final 2, managing to secure his position at the start of the pack right away. While the first couple of corners saw him dealing with immense pressure from Kragas and Mikuzis, he eventually managed to pull a gap of almost 2 seconds on the 2 drivers directly behind him.

It was a bittersweet ending for the Lithuanian at the final, as he managed to successfully steal the lead from Meunier on the first corner. He held onto it until the final lap, when Meunier managed to overtake him at the exit of his joker lap with a brilliant move on the outside. Gurklys showed resilience for the remainder of the final, showcasing the race craft that made him a title contender last season, but he eventually had to settle with P2. However, he leaves Latvia firmly in the championship battle.

Behind them was Antiguan Nicolas Geleyns, who completed one of the most consistent weekends of the field to secure second place overall. After entering Sunday tied on points with Gurklys, the Antiguan driver again demonstrated the calm and calculated approach that had kept him firmly in the fight throughout qualifying. A strong Q4 performance ensured he remained among the leading contenders before another assured drive in Semi-Final 2 earned him a front-row start for the final. Although unable to match Meunier and Gurklys’ outright pace in the decisive race, Geleyns absorbed pressure throughout and delivered a clean, composed performance to secure valuable championship points and an important podium finish to begin his 2026 season.

Round 2 of the FIA Euro RX3 Championship will continue at Round 2 in Nyirád, Hungary on May 30-31, as the battle between Meunier, Geleyns and Gurklys already begins to establish itself as one of the standout storylines of the 2026 campaign.

Julien Meunier said: “It feels really great. I feel very good now. The plan at the start was not necessarily to come here and win, but we did it. Now we need to manage that across the season, and that is the plan.

“Drivers like Nicolas and Rytis are very fast, so it is really cool to fight with them. I am very happy with this result.

“We have worked really well with the whole team, and we are so happy to be this fast compared to them. They already have one season behind them, so I am super happy to take the victory this weekend.

“For the next rounds, I will take it race by race, like we did this weekend. It worked perfectly here, so I hope we can do the same in Hungary.”

Rytis Gurklys said: “I think I looked too much in my mirrors, and I did not carry as much speed as Julien was able to. My joker was slow, and that was not ideal.

“I think the season will be hard and long. The level of competition is very high, so I know I have to prepare myself and do my homework before the next round.”

Nicolas Gelyens said: “It was a chaotic weekend, for sure. I am happy with third place. I wish it could have been a bit better, but I cannot complain too much. I was very lucky in the semi-final.

“In the final, my start was okay, but I had a bit of fighting with Kragas. I think he broke down after contact after turn two. I kept seeing Julien and Rytis fighting in front of me, and it was pretty cool to watch. I wish I could have been in that fight with them, but hopefully the next round will be even better. It was a pretty chaotic weekend, but I still made it to the podium, so I am very happy with that.