Abay tops Thruxton test

The afternoon session was abandoned mid-way through because of heavy rain, but the best times were set just after lunch following a wet morning session.

Abay was the only driver to duck below the one minute 12 second barrier and finished the test two tenths clear of championship leader Sergio Perez.

"The morning session was wet throughout and we made a couple of changes for the afternoon," said Abay.

"I knew I could make improvements under braking and when a dry line started to emerge I was able to set my best time. Unfortunately it started to rain heavily and it was too dangerous to continue."

Oliver Turvey, Max Chilton, and John Martin were all with a tenth of Perez's second-placed time, with Andy Meyrick leading the National Class runners in seventh overall.

Matt Howson, who was runner-up in the Asian F3 Championship earlier this year, was the latest driver to join the British F3 field for a test. He was helping Team Loctite with the set-up of their National Class car in the absence of regular driver Niall Quinn, but will not race for the team.