Jean-Eric Vergne (Photo Credit: World Series by Renault/Gilles Levent-DPPI)
Jean–Eric Vergne topped the timesheets in Practice One at Paul Ricard by over six tenths of a second from Carlin team mate and title rival Robert Wickens at Paul Ricard this morning.
Vergne, who trails his Canadian team mate by 34 points, was quickest by 0.673 seconds in the opening practice session on World Series by Renault’s inaugural round at Le Castellet with a lap of 1:52.469.
Carlin were supreme in winter testing at the French circuit and their immediate pace will be a significant warning to the rest of the field.
The nearest non-Carlin runner was Epic‘s Albert Costa, while Daniil Move and Brendon Hartley in fourth and fifth were the only two drivers to be within a second of Vergne’s fastest time.
Daniel Ricciardo, competing in his final Formula Renault 3.5 race of the season because the final round in Barcelona clashes with the Japanese Grand Prix, was 17th quickest.
Pos Driver Team Time Gap 1. Jean-Eric Vergne Carlin 1m52.469s 2. Robert Wickens Carlin 1m53.142s + 0.673s 3. Albert Costa Epic 1m53.368s + 0.899s 4. Daniil Move P1 1m53.378s + 0.909s 5. Brendon Hartley Gravity-Charouz 1m53.443s + 0.974s 6. Sten Pentus Epic 1m53.491s + 1.022s 7. Kevin Korjus Tech 1 1m53.533s + 1.064s 8. Nelson Panciatici KMP 1m53.565s + 1.096s 9. Stephane Richelmi Draco 1m53.828s + 1.359s 10. Cesar Ramos Fortec 1m54.059s + 1.590s 11. Jan Charouz Gravity-Charouz 1m54.061s + 1.592s 12. Alexander Rossi Fortec 1m54.096s + 1.627s 13. Daniel de Jong Comtec 1m54.102s + 1.633s 14. Daniel McKenzie Comtec 1m54.152s + 1.683s 15. Sergio Canamasas BVM Target 1m54.235s + 1.766s 16. Walter Grubmuller P1 1m54.285s + 1.816s 17. Daniel Ricciardo ISR 1m54.465s + 1.996s 18. Nick Yelloly Pons 1m54.588s + 2.119s 19. Nathanael Berthon ISR 1m54.742s + 2.273s 20. Daniel Zampieri BVM Target 1m54.789s + 2.320s 21. Andre Negrao Draco 1m54.809s + 2.340s 22. Jake Rosenzweig Mofaz 1m54.886s + 2.417s 23. Oliver Webb Pons 1m55.412s + 2.943s 24. Arthur Pic Tech 1 1m55.687s + 3.218s 25. Fairuz Fauzy Mofaz 1m55.731s + 3.262s 26. Anton Nebylitskiy KMP 1m56.312s + 3.843s
