Nicolas Sarkozy on Sunday crashed out of the race to elect a Right-wing nominee for next year's presidential election in France, after François Fillon, a Thatcherite with a Welsh wife, came a spectacular first ahead of Alain Juppé.

The race to pick a nominee for the Republicans party has sparked huge interest as the winner is likely to meet – and defeat – Marine Le Pen, leader of the anti-EU, anti-immigrant Front National, in the definitive presidential run-off next May.

The ballot was open to anyone willing to pay €2 who professes agreement with the values of the centre-Right.

In a surprise outcome, Mr Fillon was on course to finish far out in front in round one.