Vallelunga European F3 test: VAR's Ilott finishes test on top

The 17-year-old, who has switched to a Van Amersfoort Racing Dallara-Mercedes for this season, demoted team-mate Pedro Piquet from the premier position as the two-hour-40-minute Friday-afternoon session moved into its closing stages.

Motopark's Sergio Sette Camara also beat fellow Brazilian Piquet with a late run, the new recruit to the Red Bull Junior programme finishing just 0.037 seconds down on Ilott, who ironically was dropped by Red Bull at the end of 2015.

Alessio Lorandi topped the three-hour morning period and took fourth fastest in the afternoon session and on overall times to lead Carlin's runners.

Lorandi edged out Anthoine Hubert, who made it three VAR cars in the top five, and Carlin man Ryan Tveter, the American making a promising start to his second season in F3 and going second fastest in the morning.

The all-conquering Prema Powerteam, which is renowned for keeping its powder dry in testing, was led by Lance Stroll, who was third in the morning and seventh in the afternoon.

The Canadian finished one place ahead of Arjun Maini, who was eighth in both sessions in the Tomei/ThreeBond-powered T-Sport Dallara.

Like Prema, new team Hitech Grand Prix did not set any headline times, with George Russell the fastest of the outfit's trio in 13th position.

FRIDAY MORNING TIMES:

FRIDAY AFTERNOON TIMES: