Collet ends Barcelona Formula 3 in-season test on top

The MP Motorsport driver clocked a best time of 1m31.507s during Saturday’s morning session while undertaking a qualifying simulation.

Collet’s time put the Brazilian Alpine Academy racer 0.317s clear of his nearest rival and team-mate Alexander Smolyar, while Van Amersfoort Racing’s Franco Colapinto was third fastest, having logged the most mileage on the day with a 106 laps in the books.

Saturday morning provided the quickest times across the two days of running at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Bahrain race winner Isack Hadjar was fourth fastest, seventh thousandths shy of Collapinto, and less than a tenth quicker than Trident’s Roman Stanek, as Friday pacesetter Gregoire Saucy rounded out the top six. 

After an incident free opening three hour session, times were significantly slower in the afternoon session as drivers and teams focussed on race simulations.

Jenzer Motorsport’s William Alatalo ended the afternoon running on top courtesy of a 1m34.488s effort, 0.487s faster than the next best lap time from Campos Racing’s Josep Maria Marti.

Prema Racing’s Arthur Leclerc was third fastest ahead of Rafael Villagomez (Van Amersfoort Racing) Prema’s Oliver Bearman and Mercedes DTM driver David Schumacher, who received a late call-up to replace Ayrton Simmons at Charouz Racing System. The reason for the driver switch remains unclear at this stage.   

Gregoire Saucy, ART Grand Prix

Saucy topped Friday’s running for ART Grand Prix, with the rookie beating Bahrain poleman Colapinto and his Van Amersfoort Racing team-mate Victor Martins.  

The Swiss driver set a 1m32.247s during the morning session to go top by 0.155s.  

Fellow rookie Zane Maloney finished in fourth place overall, with team-mate Stanek in fifth. 

There