Premat tops Hockenheim test

ASM F3 driver Premat, who was quick but erratic in the series in 2003, put in a fastest lap that was a full 0.422s better than anyone else could manage.

Manor Motorsport's under-rated Dutch driver Charles Zwolsman was second quickest with Premat's ASM team-mate Eric Salignon third. The Frenchman has made a good start to his bid to put a disappointing, illness-affected, 2003 British F3 season behind him.

Briton Jamie Green in the third ASM car was seventh quickest.

Many of the expected frontrunners were off the pace, with champion team Prema Powerteam's best runner Roberto Streit only 13th quickest - one ahead of another fancied runner, Mucke Motorsport's Robert Kubica.

Nico Rosberg in the Opel-powered Team Rosberg Dallara was only 20th quickest, while Lewis Hamilton managed just 29th best time in his Manor Motorsport car. The young Briton crashed heavily at the Sachs Kurve and was taken to hospital for a check-up. Hamilton was given a clean bill of health.

Christian Montanari was the quicker of the two Lola Domes in a sea of Dallaras with 25th best time for Coloni Motorsport, while the other Briton in the test, Kolles' Tom Kimber-Smith, was 21st fastest.