Photo: Renault Sport Series / DPPI
MP Motorsport’s new signing Franco Colapinto set the pace on the first day of the pre-event Formula Renault Eurocup test at Monza.
The Argentinian was quickest in both of the four-hour sessions, and was one of few drivers to set their best lap in the morning’s running.
He ended the day 0.114 seconds ahead of Renault junior Caio Collet, who will contest his second season in the series with R-ace GP, and 0.154s ahead of ART Grand Prix’s Gregoire Saucy.
The returning ART team also looked quick with 2019 runner-up Victor Martins, who ended the day fourth fastest.
M2 Competition’s sole entry Mikhael Belov was fifth, while Tijmen van der Helm was another to be stronger in the morning and was sixth fastest overall. The Dutchman was driving for the FA Racing outfit, which is being run by MP Motorsport’s British offshoot Manor Competition this year.
Saucy set the most laps of anyone, while Arden’s Reshad de Gerus only set 15 laps in the second session and ended the day over two seconds off the pace.
Test results
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franco Colapinto | MP Motorsport | 1m48.274s | 60 | |
| 2 | Caio Collet | R-ace GP | 1m48.388s | +0.114s | 62 |
| 3 | Gregoire Saucy | ART Grand Prix | 1m48.428s | +0.154s | 93 |
| 4 | Victor Martins | ART Grand Prix | 1m48.505s | +0.231s | 82 |
| 5 | Mikhael Belov | M2 Competition | 1m48.631s | +0.357s | 81 |
| 6 | Tijmen van der Helm | FA Racing by Manor | 1m48.662s | +0.388s | 68 |
| 7 | Lorenzo Colombo | Bhaitech | 1m48.675s | +0.401s | 83 |
| 8 | Joey Alders | MP Motorsport | 1m48.686s | +0.412s | 57 |
| 9 | Petr Ptacek | R-ace GP | 1m48.686s | +0.412s | 89 |
| 10 | William Alatalo | JD Motorsport | 1m49.008s | +0.734s | 76 |
| 11 | Alex Quinn | Arden | 1m48.897s | +0.623s | 63 |
| 12 | Hadrien David | MP Motorsport | 1m49.016s | +0.742s | 61 |
| 13 | Amaury Cordeel | FA Racing by Manor | 1m49.076s | +0.802s | 78 |
| 14 | Ugo de Wilde | Arden | 1m49.094s | +0.820s | 58 |
| 15 | Paul Aron | ART Grand Prix | 1m49.118s | +0.844s | 75 |
| 16 | Laszlo Toth | Bhaitech | 1m49.312s | +1.038s | 79 |
| 17 | Nicola Marinangeli | Bhaitech | 1m49.332s | +1.058s | 70 |
| 18 | Reshad de Gerus | Arden | 1m50.663s | +2.389s | 48 |