FR3.5 testing: Alexander Albon fastest on day one at Aragon
McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award finalist Alexander Albon set the pace on the first day of Formula Renault 3.5 testing at Aragon on Monday
Albon, one of 13 drivers invited by Renault Sport to take part in at least half a day of testing as a result of their achievements in 2014, led the way in the morning session for Lotus.
While several other drivers improved their best time later in the day, Albon held onto top spot by less than one tenth of a second from afternoon pacesetter Gustav Malja.
Malja was in action for Zeta Corse, the Russian team returning to action after skipping the post-season test at Jerez last month.
The FR3.5 field was still not full though, as ISR - the only team to run as a single-car entry throughout the 2014 season - have not attended the test.
Renault Sport had previously stated that all 12 teams from this season were going to return for 2015, but series organisers now plan to announce the line-up of teams later this month.
Formula Renault 2.0 pair Albon and Malja were followed by a more experienced group, as FR3.5 podium finisher Nicholas Latifi, GP3 and GP2 racer Tio Ellinas, and regular FR3.5 driver Pietro Fantin completed the top five.
"To be honest, I didn't imagine I would have such a good day," said Albon, who was third fastest in the afternoon behind Malja and Latifi.
"The objective was to be the best rookie, and it went even better. After two or three laps, you get used to the speed."
As well as several frontrunners from various FR2.0 championships receiving invites from Renault to test, Nissan-backed GP3 racer Jann Mardenborough took part as part of a tie-up between the Japanese and French manufacturers.
Combined times: Pos Driver Team Time Gap 1. Alex Albon Lotus 1:41.629s 2. Gustav Malja Zeta 1:41.725s +0.096s 3. Nicholas Latifi Arden 1:41.744s +0.115s 4. Tio Ellinas Strakka 1:41.826s +0.197s 5. Pietro Fantin Draco 1:41.827s +0.198s 6. Egor Orudzhev Arden 1:41.878s +0.249s 7. Beitske Visser AVF 1:41.928s +0.299s 8. Jazeman Jaafar DAMS 1:42.027s +0.398s 9. Andrea Pizzitola Lotus 1:42.034s +0.405s 10. Charles Leclerc Arden 1:42.046s +0.417s 11. Louis Deletraz Zeta 1:42.067s +0.438s 12. Jann Mardenborough Tech 1 1:42.093s +0.464s 13. Dennis Olsen Strakka 1:42.128s +0.499s 14. Nyck de Vries DAMS 1:42.205s +0.576s 15. Matevos Isaakyan AVF 1:42.442s +0.813s 16. Seb Morris Fortec 1:42.481s +0.852s 17. Bruno Bonifacio Draco 1:42.547s +0.918s 18. Sandy Stuvik Pons 1:42.556s +0.927s 19. Ben Barnicoat Fortec 1:42.689s +1.060s 20. Indy Dontje Comtec 1:43.031s +1.402s 21. Luis Sa Silva Pons 1:43.380s +1.751s 22. Guillaume Cunnington Tech 1 1:51.744s +10.115s
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