Johnathan Hoggard and Fortec lead British F3 media day test

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

British Formula 4 graduate Johnathan Hoggard set the pace in the first BRDC British Formula 3 pre-season test of 2019, heading Fortec Motorsports team-mate Manuel Maldonado.

The 18-year-old topped the first and third of the three sessions held at Donington Park, with his best time significantly faster than the pole lap set at the circuit in the final round of the 2018 season.

It was a track record for a BRDC British F3 car, and was 0.324 seconds faster than Maldonado’s best effort.

British F4 title rivals Ayrton Simmons and Kiern Jewiss ended the test third and fourth fastest for Chris Dittmann Racing and Douglas Motorsport, split by just 0.109s.

Hillspeed’s Sasakorn Chaimongkol was the fastest driver in the second session, and led throughout much of the final session but failed to improve compared to his rivals late on, slipping down to sixth. Just ahead of him was Carlin’s Kaylen Frederick.

Former Red Bull junior Neil Verhagen was the best Double R Racing driver in seventh, ahead of Carlin returnee Clement Novalak, Hampus Ericsson (Double R) and Benjamin Pedersen (Douglas).

Notable drivers who tested and have yet to announce their participation in the series included French and Spanish F4 frontrunners Ulysse De Pauw (Douglas) and Nazim Azman (CDR) and W Series hopeful Megan Gilkes (Hillspeed).

Test results