Sainz quickest at GP3 test

MW Arden's Carlos Sainz Jr set the pace on the first day of GP3 testing in Estoril as the teams got to grips with the new GP3/13 car.

MW Arden driver eight tenths clear of the chasing pack

MW Arden's Carlos Sainz Jr set the pace on the first day of GP3 testing in Estoril as the teams got to grips with the new GP3/13 car. A full contingent of 27 cars were in attendance, including the two new teams in 2013 - Bamboo Engineering and Koiranen GP. Sainz was the only driver to drop below the 1:27 barrier, lapping some eight tenths quicker than his team-mate Daniil Kvyat who was second fastest, and that pace could be ominous for the rest of the field as MW Arden go in search of their second Drivers' title in a row. "I am really happy today, this was my first time driving Circuito Estoril and I am P1," Sainz said. "So many people had said how difficult the GP3/13 car would be to drive and they were right! I was so surprised with the amount of power and speed, in particular through the corners. It's very challenging for us and it's a very good feeling driving a car with 400hp, we had a great base to start with so we will see what we can achieve." GP3 Series Technical Director Didier Perrin was delighted to see the new car in action - which sounds completely different following a switch to a naturally-aspirated 400hp engine, compared with the turbo-charged 280hp unit used since the series inception in 2010. "Today has been a big success," Perrin said. "The car looks beautiful, it sounds fantastic and as anticipated it's much quicker than the GP3/10. We have achieved over 650 laps on day one of testing. With more power, the car will be much more demanding for drivers, therefore I am very confident that when we arrive in Barcelona for the first round, we will produce an even better show and a high level of exciting competition." Day 1 Times: Morning
1. Tio Ellinas - Marussia Manor Racing - 1: 29.396 - 13
2. Daniil Kvyat - MW Arden - 1:30.302 - 15
3. David Fumanelli - Trident - 1:30.605 - 16
4. Carlos Sainz Jr - MW Arden - 1:31.283 - 12
5. Nick Yelloly - Carlin - 1:31.351 - 17
6. Eric Lichtenstein - Carlin - 1:31.388 - 19
7. Kevin Korjus - Koiranen GP - 1:31.780 - 13
8. Robert Visoiu - MW Arden - 1:31.787 - 13
9. Emanuele Zonzini - Trident - 1:31.808 - 13
10. Vicky Piria - Marussia Manor Racing - 1:31.960 - 16
11. Giovanni Venturini - Trident - 1:32.162 - 19
12. Dino Zamparelli - Marussia Manor Racing - 1:32.467 - 11
13. Luis Sa Silva - Carlin - 1:32.584 - 20
14. Roberto La Rocca - Bamboo Engineering - 1:32.780 - 7
15. Patrick Kujala - Koiranen GP - 1:34.241 - 4
16. Adderly Fong - Status Grand Prix - 1:54.042 - 1
17. Lewis Williamson - Bamboo Engineering - 2
18. Ethan Ringel - Bamboo Engineering - 1
19. Jimmy Eriksson - Status Grand Prix - 1
20. Aaro Vainio - Koiranen GP - 0
21. Josh Webster - Status Grand Prix - 0
22. Alex Fontana - Jenzer Motorsport - 0
23. Patric Niederhauser - Jenzer Motorsport - 0
24. Samin Gomez - Jenzer Motorsport - 0
25. Jack Harvey - ART Grand Prix - 0
26. Facu Regalia - ART Grand Prix - 0
27. Conor Daly - ART Grand Prix - 0 Day 1 Times: Afternoon
1. Carlos Sainz Jr - MW Arden - 1:26.816 - 29 laps
2. Daniil Kvyat - MW Arden - 1:27.616 - 27
3. Tio Ellinas - Marussia Manor Racing - 1:27.681 - 19
4. David Fumanelli - Trident - 1:27.714 - 26
5. Kevin Korjus - Koiranen GP - 1:27.846 - 25
6. Robert Visoiu - MW Arden - 1:27.871 - 24
7. Giovanni Venturini - Trident - 1:28.021 - 30
8. Patric Niederhauser - Jenzer Motorsport - 1:28.068 - 42
9. Facu Regalia - ART Grand Prix - 1:28.112 - 27
10. Conor Daly - ART Grand Prix - 1:28.309 - 28
11. Jack Harvey - ART Grand Prix - 1:28.509 - 21
12. Patrick Kujala - Koiranen GP - 1:28.614 - 24
13. Aaro Vainio - Koiranen GP - 1:28.791 - 19
14. Alex Fontana - Jenzer Motorsport - 1:28.844 - 28 15. Nick Yelloly - Carlin - 1:29.019 - 28
16. Adderly Fong - Status Grand Prix - 1:29.029 - 26
17. Emanuele Zonzini - Trident - 1:29.159 - 28
18. Dino Zamparelli - Marussia Manor Racing - 1:29.201 - 30
19. Josh Webster - Status Grand Prix - 1:29.417 -27
20. Samin Gomez - Jenzer Motorsport - 1:29.682 - 35
21. Vicky Piria - Marussia Manor Racing - 1:29.816 - 27
22. Eric Lichtenstein - Carlin - 1:29.852 - 27
23. Ethan Ringel - Bamboo Engineering - 1:30.266 - 27
24. Luis Sa Silva - Carlin - 1:30.477 - 26
25. Jimmy Eriksson - Status Grand Prix - 1:30.694 - 29
26. Lewis Williamson - Bamboo Engineering - 1:31.142 - 9
27. Roberto La Rocca - Bamboo Engineering - 1:31.313 - 13