Will Stevens (Photo Credit: Renault Sport)
Will Stevens was fastest on the final day of collective testing in Formula Renault 3.5 in 2011.
Stevens, driving for P1 Motorsport, was quickest on the final dry session in Aragon with a time of 1m43.072s, shading Arthur Pic (Epic Racing) and Marco Sorensen (Gravity-Charouz) to end the day top of the timesheets.
Stevens also broke Richie Stanaway's stranglehold on top spot after the New Zealander had dominated the previous two days for Gravity Charouz.
And now the German F3 champion is after a permanent seat for the team in 2012.
Stanaway said: “It's my first time on this track and in this single-seater. I've enjoyed myself over the three days, in all conditions, and it's a real boost to see your name up there in first.”
“I've worked really well with the Gravity-Charouz team and I hope to be on the grid for the Formula Renault 3.5 Series in 2012.”
Stanaway was not the only driver attempting to put himself in the shop window in a bid for a FR3.5 race seat next year.
Kevin Korjus, a race winner in FR3.5 last season, finished rounded out the top five in day three of testing and is keen for a second season in the category next year.
The Estonian, who drove for Lotus Renault GP at the Young Drivers Test in Abu Dhabi last month, said: “We did a lot of work on tyre use (new and worn) and on other things.”
“It's been a bit weird being here today because the last single-seater I was in was an F1 car and the track temperature was over 30ºC, the exact opposite to the conditions at Motorland.”
“Next year I'm going to continue with my programme in Formula Renault 3.5 Series.”
He was followed by Nico Muller (Draco), Kevin Magnussen (Carlin), Nick Yelloly (Comtec) and Robin Frijns (Fortec), all of whom were covered just under one tenth of a second. Zoel Amberg (Pons) rounded out the top ten.
The top 18 drivers were separated by just over eight tenths of a second as the squabbled for supremacy in the crisp conditions in Aragon.
British F3 champion Felipe Nasr, who sat out the final day's testing for Carlin, is one of many drivers looking to step up next term.
He said: “Driving a single-seater like this is all part of preparing for F1.”
“That's why getting a Formula Renault 3.5 Series drive is one of my priorities for next season.”
Like Nasr, Carlos Sainz Jr. also sat out the final session of the season for Carlin having ended the first day fifth fastest.
And although the Red Bull-backed Spaniard has signed for the team to compete in British F3 in 2012, is eyeing a raceseat in FR3.5 in the not too distant future.
“I've been very impressed by the Formula Renault 3.5 and I've never driven a car as powerful as this before” said the Formula Renault Eurocup runner up.
“I had a day's testing and it was a rewarding experience, especially as I set a good time on a damp track.2
“I need to have a good season in the British F3 International Series next year, and then maybe I can move on to Formula Renault 3.5 Series in 2013.”
Dean Stoneman, in his first competitive test since being diagnosed with testicular cancer, finished 17th fastest for ISR, within a second of Stevens.
Stoneman said; “What with my illness it's been 14 months since I last had a seat in a racing car.”
“Obviously I'm not in the best physical shape but I've been training hard.
“I need to get my bearings back and assess where I'm at and how far I'm capable of going.
“I had my last operation only ten weeks ago and I still need a bit of time yet.”
The Aragon test represented the final outing for the current Formula Renault 3.5 chassis, with next year’s car to be used for the next round of tests at Paul Ricard on 13th-14th March, Barcelona 3rd-4th April and Motorland Aragon 18th-19th April 2012.
Day Three times:
Pos Driver Team Time Gap 1. Will Stevens P1 1m43.072s 2. Arthur Pic Epic 1m43.093s + 0.021s 3. Marco Sorenson Gravity-Charouz 1m43.166s + 0.094s 4. Richie Stanaway Gravity-Charouz 1m43.251s + 0.179s 5. Kevin Korjus Tech 1 1m43.259s + 0.187s 6. Nico Muller Draco 1m43.376s + 0.304s 7. Kevin Magnussen Carlin 1m43.401s + 0.329s 8. Nick Yelloly Comtec 1m43.450s + 0.378s 9. Robin Frijns Fortec 1m43.455s + 0.383s 10. Zoel Amberg Pons 1m43.504s + 0.432s 11. Danil Kvyat Carlin 1m43.601s + 0.529s 12. Andre Negrao Draco 1m43.697s + 0.625s 13. Giovanni Venturini Fortec 1m43.702s + 0.630s 14. Lucas Foresti Comtec 1m43.768s + 0.696s 15. Sergey Afanasiev BVM Target 1m43.794s + 0.722s 16. Laurens Vanthoor ISR 1m43.857s + 0.785s 17. Dean Stoneman ISR 1m43.911s + 0.839s 18. Jazeman Jaafar KMP/Carlin 1m43.934s + 0.862s 19. Walter Grubmuller P1 1m44.073s + 1.001s 20. Adrian Quaife-Hobbs Epic 1m44.110s + 1.038s 21. Nicolai Martsenko BVM Target 1m44.400s + 1.328s 22. Maxime Jousse KMP 1m44.680s + 1.608s 23. Yann Cunha Pons 1m45.351s + 2.279s 24. Fabiano Machado Tech 1 1m45.473s + 2.401s
