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Estoril GP3 test: Red Bull juniors lead first day

Red Bull junior drivers Carlos Sainz Jr and Daniil Kvyat topped the first day of testing with the new GP3 car at Estoril on Wednesday

The MW Arden team-mates led the way ahead of morning pacesetter Tio Ellinas, as the new car went more than three seconds faster than its predecessor had ever managed at the Portuguese track.

Formula Renault ALPS champion Kvyat topped the order heading into the closing stages, as the times tumbled in the afternoon after a morning where only around half of the field set a representative lap time.

Ellinas, who went nearly two seconds quicker than his morning benchmark, narrowly missed out on heading the Russian, before Sainz blitzed the field with 15 minutes to go.

"So many people had said how difficult the new car would be to drive and they were right," said Sainz.

"I was so surprised with the amount of power and the speed through the corners. We had a great base to start with so we will see what we can achieve."

Trident's David Fumanelli made sure the top four drivers from the morning stayed at the front in the afternoon, just ahead of Formula Renault 3.5 convert Kevin Korjus and the third MW Arden car of Robert Visoiu.

GP2 and GP3 technical director Didier Perrin was pleased with the opening day for the new GP3/13, and he believes it will produce more spectacular racing when the season kicks off.

"Today has been a big success," he said. "With more power, the car will be much more demanding for drivers.

"Therefore I am very confident that when we arrive in Barcelona for the first round, we will produce an even better show and a high level of exciting competition."

Today's times:

Pos  Driver                 Team         Time       Gap       Laps
 1.  Carlos Sainz Jr        MW Arden     1m26.816s            29
 2.  Daniil Kvyat           MW Arden     1m27.616s  + 0.800s  27
 3.  Tio Ellinas            Manor        1m27.681s  + 0.865s  19
 4.  David Fumanelli        Trident      1m27.714s  + 0.898s  26
 5.  Kevin Korjus           Koiranen     1m27.846s  + 1.030s  25
 6.  Robert Visoiu          MW Arden     1m27.871s  + 1.055s  24
 7.  Giovanni Venturini     Trident      1m28.021s  + 1.205s  30
 8.  Patric Niederhauser    Jenzer       1m28.068s  + 1.252s  42
 9.  Facu Regalia           ART          1m28.112s  + 1.296s  27
10.  Conor Daly             ART          1m28.309s  + 1.493s  28
11.  Jack Harvey            ART          1m28.509s  + 1.693s  21
12.  Patrick Kujala         Koiranen     1m28.614s  + 1.798s  24
13.  Aaro Vainio            Koiranen     1m28.791s  + 1.975s  19
14.  Alex Fontana           Jenzer       1m28.844s  + 2.028s  28
15.  Nick Yelloly           Carlin       1m29.019s  + 2.203s  28
16.  Adderly Fong           Status       1m29.029s  + 2.213s  26
17.  Emanuele Zonzini       Trident      1m29.159s  + 2.343s  28
18.  Dino Zamparelli        Manor        1m29.201s  + 2.385s  30
19.  Josh Webster           Status       1m29.417s  + 2.601s  27
20.  Samin Gomez            Jenzer       1m29.682s  + 2.866s  35
21.  Vicky Piria            Manor        1m29.816s  + 3.000s  27
22.  Eric Lichtenstein      Carlin       1m29.852s  + 3.036s  27
23.  Ethan Ringel           Bamboo       1m30.266s  + 3.450s  27
24.  Luis Sa Silva          Carlin       1m30.477s  + 3.661s  26
25.  Jimmy Eriksson         Status       1m30.694s  + 3.878s  29
26.  Lewis Williamson       Bamboo       1m31.142s  + 4.326s  9
27.  Roberto La Rocca       Bamboo       1m31.313s  + 4.497s  13

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