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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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