Piquet on top at Paul Ricard

Piquet's time of 1:15.799, set in the afternoon session, was at the top of the times despite Lopez setting a faster lap of 1:15.509 in the same session. Despite not being the fastest man overall, Piquet felt he and his team had done a reasonable job today.

"It was okay, but it could have been better I think," he noted after the session. "We tested a few different things but it wasn't anything too special, and I hope to have another good day tomorrow, to finish on top before Christmas."

Lopez seemed unconcerned with the disqualification after the sessions: "We've been the quickest since we went on the circuit today, with old tyres, with new tyres, and it wasn't easy but we were always there, which is quite encouraging.

"Yeah, the car was underweight by about three kilos, and the balance was okay so they don't really know why yet. But it doesn't really matter for me - I know I did well today.

"It's been important for me today - I've tested already with ART and was quickest again today with a different team, so it means that I should be okay for next year."

Timo Glock, fresh from his rookie season in Champ Car, was quickly up to pace today, setting the second fastest time for the day. "It wasn't bad, and from the beginning on the feeling for the car was pretty good.

"I am pretty satisfied - Lopez didn't have the weight in the car and only Piquet was faster, so for the first test it was alright."

Afternoon times:

Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Piquet Jr Piquet Sports 1:15.799 25 2. Glock ART Grand Prix 1:16.069 31 3. di Grassi Durango 1:16.139 25 4. Zuber BCN Competicion 1:16.222 38 5. Garcia BCN Competicion 1:16.313 20 6. Perera DAMS 1:16.373 41 7. Shimoda ART Grand Prix 1:16.414 33 8. Pavlovic Super Nova International 1:16.618 39 9. Pla DPR 1:16.673 27 10. Filippi Coloni Motorsport 1:16.680 19 11. Negrao Piquet Sports 1:16.737 28 12. Parente Arden International 1:16.757 25 13. Kane iSport International 1:16.777 21 14. Ammermueller Arden International 1:16.938 31 15. Conway iSport International 1:17.097 32 16. Monfardini DAMS 1:17.159 44 17. Jouanny Coloni Motorsport 1:17.206 29 18. Cruz Alvarez Racing Engineering 1:17.215 40 19. Barba Campos Racing 1:17.265 35 20. McIntosh DPR 1:17.477 45 21. Villa Racing Engineering 1:18.191 30 22. Tahinci Campos Racing 1:18.479 49 23. Biagi Durango 1:18.620 37

Morning times:

Pos  Driver        Team                       Time      Laps
 1.  Lopez         Super Nova International   1:16.108   24
 2.  Perera        DAMS                       1:16.200   35
 3.  Zuber         BCN Competicion            1:16.421   36
 4.  Parente       Arden International        1:16.465   27
 5.  Piquet        Piquet Sports              1:16.480   49
 6.  Glock         ART Grand Prix             1:16.546   40
 7.  Ammermueller  Arden International        1:16.853   42
 8.  Conway        iSport International       1:17.139   41
 9.  Negrao        Piquet Sports              1:17.159   53
10.  Monfardini    DAMS                       1:17.263   33
11.  Kane          iSport International       1:17.357   36
12.  Pla           DPR                        1:17.376   32
13.  Filippi       Coloni Motorsport          1:17.378   33
14.  Pavlovic      Super Nova International   1:17.407   39
15.  Barba         Campos Racing              1:17.421   39
16.  Jouanny       Coloni Motorsport          1:17.486   39
17.  Villa         Racing Engineering         1:17.751   44
18.  Cruz Alvarez  Racing Engineering         1:17.798   37
19.  Shimoda       ART Grand Prix             1:17.820   32
20.  di Grassi     Durango                    1:17.828   27
21.  McIntosh      DPR                        1:17.974   53
22.  Biagi         Durango                    1:19.286   40
23.  Tahinci       Campos Racing              1:19.295   43
24.  Garcia        BCN Competicion            1:25.345    7

All Timing Unofficial