Brit F3: Calado and Carlin top opening Sneterton test

James Calado emerged quickest from the first British F3 test of the new year at Snetterton today after topping both the day’s sessions.

Last season’s Formula Renault UK runner-up pipped Alex Brundle by just 0.003secs in the morning at the wheel of his Volkswagen-powered Carlin Motorsport Dallara before improving by half a second in the afternoon to set a benchmark of 1m10.428s.

Team mate and fellow rookie Jean Eric Vergne ended the day second, 0.342s down on the Racing Steps Foundation driver, with Brundle’s 1m11.055s effort from the morning’s running netting him and T-Sport third spot.

After being confirmed as a Carlin driver just before the test, Adriano Buzaid wasted little time in finding his feet by going fourth, ahead Oli Webb’s Fortec Mercedes and Hitech’s Will Buller.

In the National Class, it was all about Menasheh Idafar who showed  everyone why he loves the Norfolk venue by setting a best lap of 1m11.706s, enough to leave him ninth overall and 1.4 seconds clear of British Formula Ford champion and T-Sport team mate James Cole.

Testing continues tomorrow.

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Tom Hornsby