It was business as usual for ART Grand Prix in a qualifying session to determine 2010 race numbers at Paul Ricard today.

26 drivers took part in a qualifying shootout around noon at Le Castellet to decide race number allocation for the season. The 30 minute session took place on the 3D configuration track between 11:45 and 12:15. Final classification was decided by the fastest lap set out of the three drivers from each team.

After a closely fought session it was Alexander Rossi who took the top spot for ART Grand Prix. The American was also the first GP3 driver to break the 1:19s barrier, posting a time of 1:19.927.

Rossi's teammate Esteban Gutierrez took second place. Robert Wickens ended the session in third spot claiming numbers 4, 5 and 6 for his team Status GP. Numbers 7, 8 and 9 have been allocated to Manor GP after James Jakes posted the fourth quickest time, and RSC Mucke Motorsport will run with numbers 10, 11 and 12 after Renger van der Zande claimed fifth place for the team.

Complete race numbers have been allocated as follows:

ART Grand Prix: 1, 2, 3
Status GP: 4, 5, 6
Manor GP: 7, 8, 9
RSC Mucke Motorsport: 10, 11, 12
Carlin: 14, 15, 16
Addax Team: 17, 18, 19
MW Arden: 20, 21, 22
Jenzer Motorsport: 23, 24, 25
Tech 1 Racing: 26, 27, 28
Atech CRS GP: 29, 30, 31

Only drivers officially announced as contesting the 2010 season were eligible for race number allocation, so even though they took part in the session unsigned drivers Jake Rosenzweig (Carlin), Daniel Morad (Status GP) and Felipe Guimaraes were not classified. Atech CRS GP drivers Oliver Oakes and Dean Stoneman, and Tech 1 Racing's Daniel Juncadella, did not take to the track.

The allocated numbers will come into effect at the Barcelona test on the 13th-14th April.