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Baguette stays on top in Spa FR3.5

A last lap effort from Bertrand Baguette allowed the Belgian to repeat his morning performance and set the fastest time in the final Formula Renault 3.5 practice session at Spa-Francorchamps on Friday

Less than 0.1 seconds separated the first three drivers at the classic circuit. Baguette was the only driver to dip into the 2m03s, his time of 2m03.99s edging out British Formula 3 champion Jaime Alguersuari, who had been fastest in the closing stages of the hour-long session. Former GP2 racer Adrian Zaugg was third for Interwetten Racing.

"I am surprised that it is so close given that it is such a long circuit," said Zaugg. "To be honest I am still struggling getting used to the brakes, and I am locking up the wheels everywhere. I expect qualifying tomorrow to produce times quite a lot faster than we've seen today, just so long as it doesn't rain."

James Walker was fourth fastest for P1 Motorsport, ahead of Baguette's Draco team-mate Marco Barba and round one double winner Marcos Martinez.

Miguel Molina rebounded from gearbox downshift problems that had blighted his progress during first practice this morning to end the day in seventh. The Ultimate Motorsport driver had led the way at the half-hour mark, before being demoted by Alguersuari.

German newcomer Tobias Hegewald continued a solid start to his debut Formula Renault 3.5 meeting in eighth.

"It is more than I expected," said Hegewald. "I have driven the car twice in testing, but this afternoon has been the first time today that I have driven on new tyres. I don't want to set any too unrealistic goals, but my personal aim is to reach the Super Pole."

Carlin's Oliver Turvey completed minimal running due to steering rack problems, which caused a heart stopping moment in the daunting Eau Rouge corner.

Pos  Driver                Team         Time            Gap
 1.  Bertrand Baguette     Draco        2m03.993s
 2.  Jaime Alguersuari     Carlin       2m04.022s  + 0.029s
 3.  Adrian Zaugg          Interwetten  2m04.069s  + 0.076s
 4.  James Walker          P1           2m04.145s  + 0.152s
 5.  Marco Barba           Draco        2m04.430s  + 0.437s
 6.  Marcos Martinez       Pons         2m04.708s  + 0.715s
 7.  Miguel Molina         Ultimate     2m04.709s  + 0.716s
 8.  Tobias Hegewald       Interwetten  2m04.761s  + 0.768s
 9.  Adrian Valles         Epsilon      2m04.828s  + 0.835s
10.  Charles Pic           Tech 1       2m04.887s  + 0.894s
11.  Brendon Hartley       Tech 1       2m05.094s  + 1.101s
12.  Anton Nebilitskiy     Comtec       2m05.199s  + 1.206s
13.  Daniel Move           P1           2m05.520s  + 1.527s
14.  Federico Leo          Pons         2m05.857s  + 1.864s
15.  Sten Pentus           Fortec       2m05.964s  + 1.971s
16.  Chris van der Drift   Epsilon      2m06.023s  + 2.030s
17.  Greg Mansell          Ultimate     2m06.030s  + 2.037s
18.  Frankie Provenzano    Prema        2m06.237s  + 2.244s
19.  Alexandre Marsoin     Come         2m06.336s  + 2.343s
20.  Fairuz Fauzy          Fortec       2m06.883s  + 2.890s
21.  Oliver Turvey         Carlin       2m06.888s  + 2.895s
22.  Pasquale di Sabatino  RC           2m06.980s  + 2.987s
23.  Julian Leal           Prema        2m07.441s  + 3.448s

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