Lotus driver Matthieu Vaxiviere ended the Formula Renault 3.5 Series collective test day at Spa-Francorchamps with the quickest time, finishing ahead of Tio Ellinas of Strakka Racing.
Ellinas was quickest in the first session, setting a best time of 2m00.307s, and although he improved his time to 1m59.830s in the second session, he was beaten to the top spot by Vaxiviere’s 1m59.620s, with no other driver able to get beneath the 2m00s barrier in either session.
The first session saw Ellinas lead International Draco Racing’s Pietro Fantin and Vaxiviere, with Jagonya Ayam with Carlin’s Sean Gelael an impressive fourth fastest.
Olivier Rowland was fifth for Fortec Motorsports ahead of DAMS duo Nyck de Vries and Dean Stoneman, while the second Lotus of Meindert van Buuren was eighth. Jagonya Ayam with Carlin’s Tom Dillmann and Strakka Racing’s Gustav Malja completed the top ten.
The second session was affected by two red flag periods when first Roy Nissany of Tech 1 Racing and then Fantin stopped on track. Vaxiviere and Ellinas led the way ahead of Rowland, with Nicholas Latifi fourth fastest for Arden Motorsport.
Beitske Visser was fifth for AVF ahead of Van Buuren, Stoneman, Dillmann, Monaco race winner Jazeman Jaafar of Fortec Motorsports, and Malja.
Spa-Francorchamps Free Practice Times (Combined)
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