Oli Webb set the pace on the opening day of British F3 testing at Rockingham yesterday as this year’s championship preparations continued to gather pace.
The 18-year-old spent most of last week’s Snetterton test familiarising himself with Fortec’s Dallara-Mercedes but vaulted to the top of the time sheets at Rockingham with a 1m11.211s effort that proved a second faster than last season’s pole position time.
Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne was once again Carlin’s Mr Consistent, leading the morning’s running before settling for second in the afternoon, 0.228secs adrift of Webb.
Having set the fastest time at Snetterton, Daisuke Nakajima continued his good form to finish the day third, less than half a tenth shy of Vergne with a lap of 1m11.446s at the wheel of his Double R Dallara Mercedes. Will Buller ended the day just 0.268secs shy of the top spot in fourth, ahead of the improving Daniel McKenzie, Felipe Nasr and Carlos Huertas.
Two of last week’s shining stars James Calado and Alex Brundle meanwhile struggled to get to grips with the Corby venue, ending up ninth and 15th of the International Class runners respectively.
Indeed, Brundle was slower than leading National Class contender Menasheh Idafar who, for the third test running, topped the category.
Rockingham testing continues today ahead of the opening round at Oulton Park on April 4/5.
Leading International runners am / pm
1 Oli WEBB / GBR, Fortec Dallara-Mercedes 1m 12.151s / 1m 11.211s
2 Jean-Eric VERGNE / FRA, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 1m 11.437s / 1m 11.511s
3 Daisuke NAKAJIMA / JPN, RR Dallara-Mercedes 1m 11.446s / 1m 11.895s
4 William BULLER / GBR, Hitech Dallara-Volkswagen 1m 11.469s / 1m 11.490s
5 Daniel McKENZIE / GBR, Fortec Dallara-Mercedes 1m 11.623s / 1m 11.949s
6 Felipe NASR / BRA, RR Dallara-Mercedes 1m 11.706s / 1m 12.063s
7 Carlos HUERTAS / COL, RR Dallara-Mercedes 1m 12.363s / 1m 11.755s
8 Rupert SVENDSEN-COOK / GBR, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 1m 12.770s / 1m 11.855s
9 James CALADO / GBR, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 1m 11.860s / 1m 11.880s
10 Adriano BUZAID / BRA, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 1m 11.918s / 1m 12.082s
11 Gabriel DIAS / BRA, Hitech Dallara-Volkswagen 1m 13.400s / 1m 12.048s
12 Jazeman JAAFAR / MAS, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 1m 12.192s / 1m 12.197s
13 Hywel LLOYD / GBR, CF Racing Dallara-Mercedes 1m 12.508s / 1m 12.195s
14 Lucas FORESTI / BRA, Hitech Dallara-Volkswagen 1m 13.020s / 1m 13.048s
15 Alex BRUNDLE / GBR, T-Sport Dallara-Volkswagen 1m 13.047s / 1m 13.104s
16 Jay BRIDGER / GBR, Litespeed Dallara-Volkswagen 1m 14.701s / 1m 13.143s
17 Adderly FONG / CHN, Sino Vision Dallara-Mercedes 1m 14.498s / 1m 14.368s
Leading National Class runners
1 Menasheh IDAFAR / GBR, T-Sport Dallara-Mugen Honda 1m 12.810s / 1m 12.560s
2 Rio HARYANTO / INA, West-Tec Dallara-Mugen Honda 1m 15.558s / 1m 12.792s
3 James COLE / GBR, T-Sport Dallara-Mugen Honda 1m 14.094s / 1m 13.097s
4 Alex JONES / GBR, West-Tec Dallara-Mugen Honda 1m 14.329s / 1m 14.162s
Invitation Class
Pietro FANTIN / BRA, Hitech Dallara-Volkswagen 1m 13.658s / 1m 12.807s
Catch Motors TV’s British F3 coverage on Sky channel 413 and Virgin Media 545 throughout 2010.
Tom Hornsby
International
