FE: Abt leads rain-hit final day of first test

Daniel Abt topped a rain-hit final day of the opening 2016/17 Formula E preseason test at Donington Park.

Overnight rain and light drizzle ensured a wet start to Thursday's running, though the track conditions improved sufficiently for a spate of 200kW qualifying power dry runs at the end of the morning session.

Abt's 1m30.073s was four tenths shy of the record-breaking pace set by Jean-Eric Vergne on Wednesday, but would not be bettered over the remainder of the day.

That time edged Mahindra's Nick Heidfeld's best by just two hundredths of a second, the ex-Formula 1 driver ensuring his team remained near the top of the times at the end of an encouraging first test.

After setting a new lap record on his first day with the new Techeetah team, Vergne popped in a late flier to top Thursday's afternoon session.

His 1m30.234s was the third-fastest on the day, just 0.003s quicker than Renault e.dams driver Nicolas Prost managed before the Frenchman brought the morning session to a premature end with an off at Coppice.

Maro Engel and Stephane Sarrazin gave Venturi a boost after a test disrupted by stoppages by setting the third and fifth best times, with DS Virgin's Sam Bird sandwiched in between.

Bird's teammate Jose Maria Lopez completed the top six, despite causing a red flag five minutes into the day's running when he went off with the track at its worst.

Jaguar's maiden test concluded with another reliable display, Harry Tincknell joining Adam Carroll in handling an I-Type 1.

The British manufacturer was not a factor at the top of the times, although Carroll did post the fastest first sector of the day late on with a flying lap that faded over the next two sectors.

The poor track conditions did not deter teams from running, with most eager to try the new Michelin tyres in the wet for the first time.

Abt Audi Sport was the busiest team, with Abt and Lucas di Grassi managing 93 laps between them.

NextEV racked up the lowest mileage with testing debutant Dean Stoneman at the wheel.

The British driver took over from Oliver Turvey but did not complete a 200kW run in the dry, and therefore finished 16th on the timesheets.

COMBINED THURSDAY TIMES

Originally on Autosport.com