FR3.5 testing: Antonio Felix da Costa sets record Barcelona pace
Red Bull junior Antonio Felix da Costa led the way on the first day of the final Formula Renault 3.5 pre-season test at Barcelona
The Arden Caterham driver edged out morning pacesetter Kevin Magnussen by less than one tenth of a second, as several cars smashed the lap record set by da Costa in last season's finale.
Just behind McLaren junior racer Magnussen was a third driver with an association to a Formula 1 team, as Lotus-backed Marco Sorensen headed Will Stevens.
Up next was another McLaren protege in FR3.5 rookie Stoffel Vandoorne - one of only two drivers to set his fastest time in the morning running.
Da Costa, who finished the morning running - which was mainly focused on race runs - seven tenths down on Magnussen, said: "It's great to finish the day like this.
"The car was a little off balance to start with but we did some good work and got back on our feet.
"I can't wait to get out there tomorrow because we are planning to try out a few new set ups."
Combined test times: Pos Driver Team Time Gap 1. Antonio Felix da Costa Arden Caterham 1m28.935s 2. Kevin Magnussen DAMS 1m29.002s + 0.067s 3. Marco Sorensen Lotus 1m29.143s + 0.208s 4. Will Stevens P1 1m29.229s + 0.294s 5. Stoffel Vandoorne Fortec 1m29.410s + 0.475s 6. Nico Muller Draco 1m29.458s + 0.523s 7. Jazeman Jaafar Carlin 1m29.496s + 0.561s 8. Carlos Huertas Carlin 1m29.639s + 0.704s 9. Norman Nato DAMS 1m29.680s + 0.745s 10. Sergey Sirotkin ISR 1m29.703s + 0.768s 11. Marlon Stockinger Lotus 1m29.737s + 0.802s 12. Arthur Pic AV 1m29.772s + 0.837s 13. Pietro Fantin Arden Caterham 1m29.937s + 1.002s 14. Oliver Webb Fortec 1m29.953s + 1.018s 15. Nigel Melker Tech 1 1m30.037s + 1.102s 16. Matias Laine P1 1m30.248s + 1.313s 17. Lucas Foresti Comtec 1m30.288s + 1.353s 18. Daniil Move Comtec 1m30.373s + 1.438s 19. Christopher Zanella ISR 1m30.416s + 1.481s 20. Andre Negrao Draco 1m30.474s + 1.539s 21. Nikolay Martsenko Pons 1m30.525s + 1.590s 22. Mikhail Aleshin Tech 1 1m30.565s + 1.630s 23. Zoel Amberg Pons 1m30.633s + 1.698s 24. Yann Cunha AV 1m30.819s + 1.884s 25. Mihai Marinescu Zeta 1m31.044s + 2.109s 26. Dino Zamperelli Zeta 1m31.090s + 2.155s
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| Series | Formula V8 3.5 |
| Author | Glenn Freeman |
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