Source: Autosport
Calado heads Snetterton F3 test
James Calado topped the timesheet after the first day of the first British Formula 3 pre-season test at Snetterton today.[LNB]The Racing Steps Foundation-backed Carlin driver set the pace throughout the day and lapped the wet Norfolk track in a 1m10.428s best.[LNB]Calado finished up 0.342s clear of his French team-mate Jean-Eric Vergne, while his newly-signed Brazilian team-mate Adriano Buzaid claimed fourth.[LNB]"It's gone well," said 21-year-old Calado, "and I've learned a lot from today, which is the key thing."[LNB]Many teams spent the first day shaking down newly built up cars, following problems with suppliers and parts turning up hours before the test.[LNB]Volkswagen-powered cars locked out the first four places, as Alex Brundle finished his maiden outing in a British F3 car with a 1m11.055s best to claim third spot for T-Sport.[LNB]"Snetterton is home and of course it's one of my favourite tracks. It's been a good day and we've made a lot of progress," said Brundle.[LNB]His team-mate Menasheh Idafar finished up fastest of the National Class runners on his favourite circuit, setting seventh best time overall.[LNB]Last year's National Class runner-up Gabriel Dias endured a tough start to his new career with Hitech Racing. Brake problems led to a spin early on, and resultant damage to his chassis kept him off the track for most of the day.[LNB]Formula Renault UK graduate Oli Webb set the fifth fastest time for Fortec, just over eight tenths off the pace, and ended up quickest of the Mercedes runners.[LNB]Teams spokesman Peter Briggs was delighted by a 21-car turn-out on day one at Snetterton.[LNB]"We have 50 per cent more cars at our first test this season than last, and that's a great and very encouraging result," said Briggs.[LNB]"It's fantastic also to see so many international drivers choosing British F3; the prospects are bright for a superb season."[LNB]Testing continues tomorrow (Thursday) at Snetterton ahead of another two-day outing at Rockingham next week.[LNB]Pos Driver Team Car Time 1. James Calado Carlin D/V 1m10.428s 2. Jean-Eric Vergne Carlin D/V 1m10.770s 3. Alex Brundle T-Sport D/V 1m11.055s 4. Adriano Buzaid Carlin D/V 1m11.057s 5. Oli Webb Fortec D/M 1m11.285s 6. William Buller Hitech D/V 1m11.442s 7. Menasheh Idafar T-Sport D/H 1m11.706s 8. Rupert Svendsen-Cook Carlin D/V 1m11.777s 9. Carlos Huertas Double R D/M 1m11.875s10. Daisuke Nakajima Double R D/M 1m12.008s11. Jazeman Jaafar Carlin D/V 1m12.685s12. Daniel McKenzie Fortec D/M 1m12.826s13. Jay Bridger Litespeed D/M 1m12.966s14. James Cole T-Sport D/H 1m13.104s15. Hywel Lloyd CF Racing D/M 1m13.280s16. Pietro Fantin Hitech D/V 1m13.325s17. Lucas Foresti Hitech D/V 1m13.826s18. Alex Jones West-Tec D/H 1m14.075s19. Craig Reiff Litespeed S/H 1m14.124s20. Adderly Fong Sino Vision D/M 1m14.920s21. Gabriel Dias Hitech D/V 1m15.109s
