GP3 Barcelona: Hughes tops first practice of 2018 season for ART GP

The session was curtailed after a late red flag for Diego Menchaca's expiring Campos Racing-run car - caused by a hydraulic issue - which set up a late flurry of action.

That remaining time was in turn shortened due to a mandatory virtual safety car check but, as the session time ran out, European F3 graduate Hughes jumped to the top of the order with a 1m32.908s.

He unseated team-mate Anthoine Hubert - the highest-placed driver in last year's standings to return - to become the only driver to get into the 1m32s.

Leonardo Pulcini rounded out the top three in the session to give Campos some cheer despite Menchaca's suspected technical issues.

Nikita Mazepin made it three ART-run cars in the top four by besting Dorian Boccolacci for fourth.

Frenchman Boccolacci had a scary moment at the tight but fast downhill Turn 13 right-hander before the chicane, but still managed to set a respectable time and earn the honour of top spot for MP Motorsport on its GP3 debut.

His team-mates, Niko Kari and Will Palmer, both spent time at the top of the order in the early running, but fell to ninth and 18th respectively.

GP3 debutante Palmer's session was also hamstrung by skating over the gravel at Turn 4.

Tatiana Calderon stopped early on in the session but recovered to sixth, ahead of the highest-placed Trident car of Pedro Piquet.

The son of three-time Formula 1 champion Nelson beat the son of Jean Alesi, his team-mate Giuliano, as the latter had a wild moment at Turn 12.

Alesi carried too much speed into the corner before powersliding into an eventual spin.

The final ART-prepared car, driven by another F3 graduate in Callum Ilott, could only manage 11th in the session.

Practice times