The first of the four-day run saw James Jakes make the most of the conditions, setting the second best time in the morning (less than 0.1 of-a-second shy of GP2 veteran Michael Herck) and the fastest lap in the afternoon for the Scuderia Coloni squad.
There were several red flags for spins, but no crashes occurred.
Admittedly, it can be very difficult (if not impossible) to judge these tests, without any inkling of set up or fuel weights.
What is impressive though, is that Jakes is a GP2 débutante, having run in the GP3 Series earlier this year. Other GP3 runners to join the test were Robert Wickens, Roberto Mehri (who performed so well at Macau over the weekend), Simon Trummer, Stefano Coletti and GP3 champion Esteban Gutierrez.
It was not a good day though for Camilo Zurcher in the second DPR machine – the 30 year-old Colombian managed only one flying lap over the course of a day punctured with problems.
This is a crucial year for Herck and several other GP2 veterans – should they find themselves outpaced by the incoming talent, it may make it difficult for them to continue their run in Formula 1’s top feeder category.
The test continues tomorrow, with two further test days been conducted on Saturday and Sunday.
Day 1 (Morning Session)
1. Michael Herck DPR 1:48.447 (28)
2. James Jakes Scuderia Coloni 1:48.530 (21)
3. Robert Wickens iSport International 1:48.761 (19)
4. Andrea Caldarelli Racing Engineering 1:48.869 (25)
5. Josef Kral Barwa Addax Team 1:48.889 (27)
6. Esteban Gutierrez ART Grand Prix 1:48.955 (20)
7. Sam Bird Ocean Racing Tech 1:49.106 (18)
8. Stefano Coletti Trident Racing 1:49.137 (15)
9. Roberto Mehri Arden International 1:49.164 (19)
10. Rodolfo Gonzalez Racing Engineering 1:49.194 (25)
11. Marcus Ericsson Super Nova Racing 1:49.217 (19)
12. Charles Pic Barwa Addax Team 1:49.288 (13)
13. Joylon Palmer iSport International 1:49.764 (25)
14. Jan Charouz ART Grand Prix 1:49.970 (27)
15. Kevin Ceccon Scuderia Coloni 1:49.981 (30)
16. Fabio Leimer Rapax 1:50.112 (10)
17. Nathanael Berthon Dams 1:50.254 (25)
18. Ivan Samarin Dams 1:50.470 (30)
19. Julian Leal Trident Racing 1:50.684 (12)
20. Nicolas Marroc Ocean Racing Tech 1:50.757 (25)
21. Jake Rosenzweig Super Nova Racing 1:51.440 (20)
22. Simon Trummer Arden International 1:51.593 (20)
23. Armaan Ebrahim Rapax 1:53.914 (28)
24. Camilo Zurche DPR 2:33.817 (1)
Day 1 – Afternoon session
1. James Jakes Scuderia Coloni 1:47.790 (19)
2. Esteban Gutierrez ART Grand Prix 1:48.209 (27)
3. Charles Pic Barwa Addax Team 1:48.302 (36)
4. Rodolfo Gonzalez Racing Engineering 1:48.302 (20)
5. Robert Wickens iSport International 1:48.408 (20)
6. Stefano Coletti Trident Racing 1:48.413 (27)
7. Josef Kral Barwa Addax Team 1:48.426 (24)
8. Michael Herck DPR 1:48.555 (19)
9. Andrea Caldarelli Racing Engineering 1:48.635 (26)
10. Marcus Ericsson Super Nova Racing 1:48.657 (16)
11. Joylon Palmer iSport International 1:48.836 (21)
12. Sam Bird Ocean Racing Tech 1:48.849 (19)
13. Kevin Ceccon Scuderia Coloni 1:48.870 (13)
14. Roberto Merhi Arden International 1:48.947 (27)
15. Jan Charouz ART Grand Prix 1:49.575 (28)
16. Nathanael Berthon Dams 1:49.767 (31)
17. Ivan Samarin Dams 1:49.950 (25)
18. Julian Leal Trident Racing 1:50.050 (8)
19. Simon Trummer Arden International 1:50.056 (29)
20. Nicolas Marroc Ocean Racing Tech 1:50.651 (15)
21. Armaan Ebrahim Rapax 1:51.073 (23)
22. Jake Rosenzweig Super Nova Racing 1:51.419 (8)
23. Fabio Leimer Rapax 1:51.605 (3)
24. Camilo Zurcher DPR — (—)
