Fantin tops final day of FR3.5 test

Pietro Fantin topped the final day of Formula Renault 3.5 pre-season testing at Jerez on Wednesday.

The Brazilian, who endured a tough rookie season with Arden alongside Antonio Felix da Costa in 2013, led the way for Draco during the morning running when the track was at its quickest.

Fantin headed regular pre-season frontrunners Sergey Sirtotkin and Pierre Gasly, as every driver set their best time in the morning and the top 16 were covered by just half a second.

"I'm thrilled to finish the test like this because we didn't make a very good start," said Fantin. "We had a lot of understeer before making good progress yesterday. The changes we made helped us get back to our true level."

Sauber Formula 1 reserve driver Sirotkin was fastest in the afternoon session, edging out Tio Ellinas, Zoel Amberg and Gasly.

Red Bull junior Carlos Sainz managed 21 laps in the afternoon before leaving early to take part in a Formula 1 demonstration in Kuwait later this week.

There was news on the driver market front from the test as well, as AV Formula announced the signing of ex-Red Bull junior Beitske Visser.

Visser, who steps up from German Formel Masters, said: "I fell in love with the Formula Renault 3.5 car and from then on contesting the season became my only aim. I used any spare time I had to work out and build the strength and stamina needed to master such a car, and I'm happy with the progress we've made in testing."

The 19-year-old will be the first female to race in FR3.5 since Pippa Mann in 2008.