Thruxton test: Kovalainen on top

The Fortec driver averaged 125mph in his Renault-powered Dallara around the flat-out Hampshire track.

Bruce Jouanny was second fastest at the end of the two 55-minute sessions, while Japanese Shinya Hosokawa was an impressive third on his Thruxton debut.

Championship pacesetters Robbie Kerr and James Courtney were lower down the order than usual. Kerr was sixth, Courtney seventh.

Greek driver John Antoniadis did well to be 11th fastest. Meanwhile, F3 'old boy' Narain Karthikeyan lapped in a fifth Carlin Motorsport Dallara. He is due to race for the team at Thruxton on September 15, but will not take part in this weekend's rounds at Snetterton.

Clivio Piccione headed the Scholarship class, while usual pacesetter Adam Carroll struggled with his car that had to be rebuilt following a big shunt at Oulton Park.

Heikki Kovalainen Fortec Dallara-Renault 1m07.332s
Bruce Jouanny Promatecme Dallara-Mugen Honda 1m07.339s
Shinya Hosokawa Carlin Dallara-Mugen Honda 1m07.481s
Rob Austin Menu Dallara-Spiess Opel 1m07.552s
Alan van der Merwe Carlin Dallara-Mugen Honda 1m07.573s
Robbie Kerr Docking Dallara-Mugen Honda 1m07.610s
James Courtney Carlin Dallara-Mugen Honda 1m07.641s
Mark Taylor Manor Dallara-Mugen Honda 1m07.774s
Fabio Carbone Fortec Dallara-Renault 1m07.860s
Ronnie Bremer Manor Dallara-Mugen Honda 1m07.967s

Clivio Piccione T-Sport Dallara-Mugen Honda 1m08.026s
Robert Dahlgren Sweeney Dallara-Mugen Honda 1m08.137s
Gavin Smith Meritus Dallara-Mugen Honda 1m08.500s