Sato tops test times at Brands Hatch

On a day punctuated by stoppages on the Grand Prix circuit layout, Sato was fastest by 0.186s from Manor Motorsport's Derek Hayes. Sato's team-mate Anthony Davidson was third quickest but he suffered an off at the daunting Dingle Dell section near the end of the day which resulted in a damaged Carlin Motorsport Dallara-Mugen.

Atsushi Katsumata also suffered an off in his Promatecme UK Dallara which did considerable damage to his car. The Japanese driver went off the road at Paddock, which ruled him out of the other two sessions held on the day.

In trouble of a different nature was Italian Gianmaria Bruni who used the spare Fortec Renault Dallara after his own car suffered a wiring problem early in the day.

Behind the top three were the two Jaguar Racing F3 cars of Andre Lotterer, again impressing at a new circuit, and James Courtney. Lotterer was called away to Formula 1 testing duty the very next day at Monza to sub for the injured Eddie Irvine.

Manor's Mark Taylor rounded out the top six, while Tom Sisley also starred on his F3 debut for the Alain Menu's Renault-powered team. Sisley finished the day an impressive eighth quickest and is set to drive for the team this weekend.

Takuma Sato, Carlin Dallara-Mugen, 1m 19.982s
Derek Hayes, Manor Dallara-Mugen, 1m 20.168s
Anthony Davidson, Carlin Dallara-Mugen, 1m 20.474s
Andre Lotterer, Jaguar Dallara-Mugen, 1m 20.494s
James Courtney, Jaguar Dallara-Mugen, 1m 20.520s
Mark Taylor, Manor Dallara-Mugen, 1m 20.577s
Paul Edwards, ADR Dallara-Mugen, 1m 20.753s
Tom Sisley, Menu Dallara-Renault, 1m 21.268s
Bruce Jouanny, Promatecme Dallara-Mugen, 1m 21.331s
Jamie Spence, Duma Dallara-Mugen, 1m 21.358s