Matthieu Vaxiviere on top as Formula Renault 3.5 test ends at Jerez
Matthieu Vaxiviere led a one-two for the Lotus Formula Renault 3.5 team on the second day of post-season testing at Jerez on Wednesday
The Frenchman, who raced for the Charouz-run squad this season, comfortably set the pace ahead of Nicholas Latifi, who took his maiden FR3.5 podium for Tech 1 last weekend.
Tuesday's pacesetter Pietro Fantin was third fastest, with Jazeman Jaafar - switching from a season with ISR to drive for Fortec - next up, as all of the fastest times were set in the morning for the second day running.
"This morning I was blocked on my best lap," said Vaxiviere. "Had it not happened it would have been possible to go even faster.
"The important thing is that we did a good job. The package looks promising, but now I must wait to see what the future holds."
McLaren junior Nyck de Vries - stepping up from the Formula Renault Eurocup to acclimatise with his FR3.5 team DAMS - was fifth quickest, 0.7 seconds off the pace set by Vaxiviere.
Vaxiviere dominated the slower afternoon session as well, leading the rest of the field by a full second, as Oscar Tunjo and FR Eurocup racer Egor Orudzhev were his closest challengers.
The field dropped from 19 cars to 18 with Comtec not running on Wednesday, while AVF and Tech 1 continued to run one car.
Zeta Corse sat out the test for the second day running, but AUTOSPORT understands the Russian-owned outfit plans to be back for the next test in early November.
Morning times: Pos Driver Team Time Gap 1. Matthieu Vaxiviere Lotus 1m27.074s 2. Nicholas Latifi Lotus 1m27.456s +0.382s 3. Pietro Fantin Draco 1m27.502s +0.428s 4. Jazeman Jaafar Fortec 1m27.560s +0.486s 5. Nyck de Vries DAMS 1m27.792s +0.718s 6. Jordan King Arden 1m27.811s +0.737s 7. Beitske Visser AVF 1m27.899s +0.825s 8. Luca Ghiotto Fortec 1m27.911s +0.837s 9. Dennis Olsen Strakka 1m27.945s +0.871s 10. Richard Gonda Tech 1 1m28.012s +0.938s 11. Dean Stoneman Pons 1m28.032s +0.958s 12. Jimmy Eriksson DAMS 1m28.065s +0.991s 13. Oscar Tunjo Pons 1m28.071s +0.997s 14. Egor Orudzhev Arden 1m28.102s +1.028s 15. Gustav Malja ISR 1m28.222s +1.148s 16. Andrea Pizzitola ISR 1m28.595s +1.521s 17. Bruno Bonifacio Draco 1m29.177s +2.103s 18. Jake Hughes Strakka 1m30.186s +3.112s Afternoon times: Pos Driver Team Time Gap 1. Matthieu Vaxiviere Lotus 1m27.952s 2. Oscar Tunjo Pons 1m29.007s +1.055s 3. Egor Orudzhev Arden 1m29.064s +1.112s 4. Dean Stoneman Pons 1m29.151s +1.199s 5. Gustav Malja ISR 1m29.220s +1.268s 6. Luca Ghiotto Fortec 1m29.240s +1.288s 7. Andrea Pizzitola ISR 1m29.389s +1.437s 8. Richard Gonda Tech 1 1m29.405s +1.453s 9. Jazeman Jaafar Fortec 1m29.459s +1.507s 10. Nyck de Vries DAMS 1m29.531s +1.579s 11. Jordan King Arden 1m29.598s +1.646s 12. Jimmy Eriksson DAMS 1m29.694s +1.742s 13. Jake Hughes Strakka 1m29.697s +1.745s 14. Nicholas Latifi Lotus 1m29.734s +1.782s 15. Beitske Visser AVF 1m30.195s +2.243s 16. Dennis Olsen Strakka 1m30.243s +2.291s 17. Pietro Fantin Draco 1m30.785s +2.833s 18. Bruno Bonifacio Draco 1m31.302s +3.350s
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