Premat tops Euro test

The Frenchman headed his ASM Formule 3 team-mate and fellow-countryman Eric Salignon at the top of the time sheets as four drivers comfortably outpaced the field when drivers and teams started to prepare themselves for the championship rounds at the circuit on September 17.

"It was hard work today," admitted Premat. "This is my first time here and I'm impressed. It's damn fast and only has one slow turn. It's a lot of fun driving here."

Joining Premat and Salignon in the elite group at the top of the times were Nico Rosberg in his Opel-powered Team Rosberg Dallara and Jamie Green in another Mercedes-motivated ASM car.

Rosberg is second behind comfortable points leader Green in the standings. The Finn commented: "I had a great day. My car already handled very well when I went out for the first time this morning. I set my best time with tyres that were two laps old. Alexandre Premat's time can definitely be beaten..."

Series newboy Kohei Hirate made a solid testing debut with one of the Prema team's Dallara-Opels, setting the 20th best time in a 28-car field.

Britain's other series frontrunner Lewis Hamilton was 11th quickest in the Manor Motorsport Dallara-Mercedes.

Alexandre Premat ASM Dallara-Mercedes 1m51.949s
Eric Salignon ASM D-M 1m52.269d
Nico Rosberg Rosberg D-Opel 1m52.299s
Jamie Green ASM D-M 1m52.359s
Robert Kubica Mucke D-M 1m53.216s
Bruno Spengler Mucke D-M 1m53.311s
Giedo van der Garde Signature D-O 1m53.527s
Franck Perera Prema D-O 1m53.669s
Nicolas Lapierre Signature D-O 1m53.771s
Andreas Zuber Rosberg D-O 1m53.863s