FR3.5: Albon tops first day of test at Aragon

McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award finalist Alexander Albon set the pace on the first day of Formula Renault 3.5 testing at Aragon on Monday.

Albon, one of 13 drivers invited by Renault Sport to take part in at least half a day of testing as a result of their achievements in 2014, led the way in the morning session for Lotus. While several other drivers improved their best time later in the day, Albon held onto top spot by less than one tenth of a second from afternoon pacesetter Gustav Malja. Malja was in action for Zeta Corse, the Russian team returning to action after skipping the post-season test at Jerez last month.

The FR3.5 field was still not full though, as ISR - the only team to run as a single-car entry throughout the 2014 season - has not attended the test. Renault Sport had previously stated that all 12 teams from this season were going to return for 2015, but series organisers now plan to announce the line-up of teams later this month.

Formula Renault 2.0 pair Albon and Malja were followed by a more experienced group, as FR3.5 podium finisher Nicholas Latifi, GP3 and GP2 racer Tio Ellinas, and regular FR3.5 driver Pietro Fantin completed the top five.

"To be honest, I didn't imagine I would have such a good day," said Albon, who was third fastest in the afternoon behind Malja and Latifi. "The objective was to be the best rookie, and it went even better. After two or three laps, you get used to the speed."

As well as several frontrunners from various FR2.0 championships receiving invites from Renault to test, Nissan-backed GP3 racer Jann Mardenborough took part as part of a tie-up between the Japanese and French manufacturers.

Originally on Autosport.com