WSR: Vergne fastest as Jerez test ends

Jean Eric Vergne proved that he is equally adept in both Formula Renault 3.5 as he is Formula 3 by topping the collective timesheets at Jerez over the weekend.

The Frenchman, who has ended the last two British F3 pre-season tests on top, continued his purple patch of form in Spain on Sunday by lapping the former grand prix venue in 1m29.212s during the second day’s morning session to beat second place man Nathanael Berthon by over three tenths.

It was a dominant performance by the SG Formula driver who was never outside of the top three in any of the weekend’s four sessions.

Third overall went to Comtec’s Stefano Coletti whose 1m29.584s lap from the final session of the weekend was enough to beat Pons Racing’s Ferrari protégé Daniel Zampieri by just 0.015secs, the Italian having topped the timesheets after the opening day’s running.

Carlin’s Mikael Aleshin was another consistent performer over the two days, the Russian’s 1m29.644s effort enough to earn him fifth, one place clear of Greg Mansell who returned to single seaters following his Le Mans Series testing duties at Paul Ricard the previous weekend.

Frederico Leo finished the first pre-season test at Barcelona fastest of all for Pons Racing but had to settle for seventh on this occasion, his 1m29.940s edging out Junior Lotus Racing’s Nelson Panciatici, who in turn was only 0.001secs clear of Will Buller. Sten Pentus completed the top ten.

The final Formula Renault 3.5 pre-season test begins at Motorland Aragon on March 26 ahead of the season opener at the same venue on April 17/18 

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Tom Hornsby