Vaxiviere fastest as FR3.5 test ends

Matthieu Vaxiviere led a one-two for the Lotus Formula Renault 3.5 team on the second day of post-season testing at Jerez on Wednesday. The Frenchman, who raced for the Charouz-run squad this season, comfortably set the pace ahead of Nicholas Latifi, who took his first FR3.5 podium for Tech 1 last weekend.

Tuesday's pacesetter Pietro Fantin was third fastest, with Jazeman Jaafar – switching from a season with ISR to drive for Fortec – next up, as all of the fastest times were set in the morning for the second day running.

"This morning I was blocked on my best lap," said Vaxiviere. "Had it not happened it would have been possible to go even faster.

"The important thing is that we did a good job. The package looks promising, but now I must wait to see what the future holds."

McLaren junior Nyck de Vries – stepping up from the Formula Renault Eurocup to acclimatize with his FR3.5 team DAMS – was fifth quickest, 0.7 seconds off the pace set by Vaxiviere.

Vaxiviere dominated the slower afternoon session as well, leading the rest of the field by a full second, as Oscar Tunjo and FR Eurocup racer Egor Orudzhev were his closest challengers.

The field dropped from 19 cars to 18 with Comtec not running on Wednesday, while AVF and Tech 1 continued to run one car.

Zeta Corse sat out the test for the second day running, but the Russian-owned outfit plans to be back for the next test in early November.