Frijns leads the way in testing - Photo credit: Renault Sport Media
Formula Renault Eurocup champion Robin Frijns set the fastest time on the first day of Formula Renault 3.5 pre-season testing in Paul Ricard.
The Fortec rookie took the top spot away from Jules Bianchi and ex Fortec driver Alexander Rossi towards the end of the afternoon session.
Fellow newcomer Richie Stanaway also beat the more experienced duo and finished in second for Lotus with Frijns' team mate Carlos Huertas completing the top five.
The first day of testing saw the majority of the teams shaking down their brand new cars, particularly in the morning session.
Daniil Move, quickest for P1 Motorsport early on, said: “There's no doubt this new single-seater is faster than the old one, and it's a cut above in every respect.
“We've a long way to go before we get the very best out of it and yet we're already a lot quicker than we were. It's fantastic.”
The new FR3.5 car, with Zytek engine and Drag Reduction System, was almost three seconds faster than its predecessor, with Frijns’s best lap of 1m47.006s comparing to the lap record of 1m49.901s for the old car, set by 2011 champion Robert Wickens.
Nico Muller, 12th for Draco, said: “The thing that impresses me most about the new car is the aerodynamics.
“I never drove this track with the old car so I don't really have any references, but compared to every other car I've had the chance to drive it feels absolutely amazing on fast corners.”
Session times:
Pos Driver Team Time 1. Robin Frijns Fortec Motorsports 1m47.006s 2. Richie Stanaway Lotus 1m47.125s + 0.119 3. Jules Bianchi Tech 1 Racing 1m47.252s + 0.246 4. Alexander Rossi Arden Caterham 1m47.302s + 0.296 5. Carlos Huertas Fortec Motorsports 1m47.388s + 0.382 6. Arthur Pic Dams 1m47.445s + 0.439 7. Kevin Magnussen Carlin 1m47.531s + 0.525 8. Andrè Negrao International Draco 1m47.576s + 0.570 9. Walter Grubmuller P1 Motorsport 1m47.757s + 0.751 10. Marco Sorensen Lotus 1m47.757s + 0.751 11. Lewis Williamson Arden Caterham 1m47.989s + 0.983 12. Nico Muller International Draco 1m48.286s + 1.280 13. Daniil Move P1 Motorsport 1m48.317s + 1.311 14. Kevin Korjus Tech 1 Racing 1m48.501s + 1.495 15. Sam Bird Isr 1m48.519s + 1.513 16. Vittorio Ghirelli Comtec Racing 1m48.933s + 1.927 17. Anton Nebylitskiy Team Rfr 1m49.127s + 2.121 18. Lucas Foresti Dams 1m49.204s + 2.198 19. Giovanni Venturini Bvm Target 1m49.383s + 2.377 20. Mikhail Aleshin Team Rfr 1m49.613s + 2.607 21. Nick Yelloly Comtec Racing 1m49.753s + 2.747 22. Nicolay Martsenko Bvm Target 1m49.843s + 2.837 23. Jake Rosenzweig Isr 1m50.317s + 3.311 24. Yann Cunha Pons Racing 1m50.404s + 3.398 25. Zoel Amberg Pons Racing 1m50.435s + 3.429 26. Will Stevens Carlin 1m50.454s + 3.448
