Anthoine Hubert stays ahead as GP3 testing moves to Jerez

Photo: Joe Portlock/GP3 Series Media Service

Anthoine Hubert was fastest again on the first day of the second GP3 pre-season test at Jerez.

The second-year ART driver, who set the quickest time of the first test at Paul Ricard three weeks ago, set the best time of 1m30.449s early in the afternoon session.

That effort was almost bettered with just 15 minutes remaining by compatriot Dorian Boccolacci, but the MP Motorsport driver fell 0.022 seconds shy.

Leonardo Pulcini came third for Campos Racing ahead of Trident’s Alessio Lorandi, who had set the pace in the morning session with a 1m30.797s.

Fifth-placed Simo Laaksonen was the last driver to get underneath that benchmark in the afternoon, in front of Giuliano Alesi and Pedro Piquet.

Nikita Mazepin was eighth, with the remaining ART drivers Jake Hughes 11th (behind Ryan Tveter and Niko Kari) and Callum Ilott 14th.

In the morning session, which began with a damp track, Lorandi was 0.31 seconds faster than second-placed Kari.

Piquet – yet to be confirmed to race the Trident entry he has occupied throughout winter testing – was third in front of Boccolacci, Juan Correa and Laaksonen.

The ART quartet Hughes, Ilott, Mazepin and Hubert filled four of the next five places, separated only by Pulcini in seventh.

Combined day one times