Elite Motorsport’s McKenzy Cresswell started official pre-season testing in fine style, by recording the fastest lap of the day in the final session at Oulton Park.
The British driver, entering his third year in the series and his second with the Norfolk-based team, lapped the Cheshire venue in 1m29.180s, just over a tenth quicker than Rodin Motorsport’s series debutant and reigning British F4 champion Louis Sharp.
The Kiwi was in turn just eight thousandths of a second clear of Cresswell’s teammate Jarrod Waberski, with new JHR recruit John Bennett 0.040s further back in fourth.
Rodin Motorsport trialled a new driver, who posted the fifth quickest time, and within a quarter of a second of the outright pace, while VRD by Arden’s sophomore contender Noah Ping completed the top-six.
Tymek Kucharczyk was the lead Hitech Pulse-Eight runner in seventh, within four tenths of the outright pace on a chilly but sunny day at the circuit, with teammate Will Macintyre eighth.
Fortec's returnee Edward Pearson and Douglas Motorsport’s Daniel Guinchard, who was sampling GB3 with the team, completed the top-10, which was covered by just over six tenths of a second.
The top-nine set their best times in the final session, with Guinchard's best effort coming in session two. Overall, the top-15 drivers were covered by less than a second at the end of the first day of running.
Rodin Motorsport had topped the times with their prospective entrant in wet conditions this morning, but as the track dried throughout the day, times got much quicker, as Waberski topped the times in session two, with an effort over six seconds quicker. Sharp was marginally slower in session three, before Cresswell posted the best of the day midway through session four.
Tetsing at Oulton Park resumes tomorrow (Wednesday), with further official two day tests at Donington Park next week, and at Silverstone the week after.
GB3 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Oulton Park test day one result:
1. McKenzy Cresswell, Elite Motorsport, 1m29.180s
2. Louis Sharp, Rodin Motorsport, +0.126s
3. Jarrod Waberski, Elite Motorsport, +0.134s
4. John Bennett, JHR Developments, +0.174s
5. Rodin 1, Rodin Motorsport, +0.243s
6. Noah Ping, VRD Racing by Arden, +0.334s
7. Tymek Kucharczyk, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +0.358s
8. Will Macintyre, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +0.570s
9. Edward Pearson, Fortec Motorsport, +0.593s
10. Daniel Guinchard, Douglas Motorsport, +0.617s
11. Colin Queen, Fortec Motorsport, +0.788s
12. Patrick Heuzenroeder, JHR Developments, +0.815s
13. Gerrard Xie, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +0.865s
14. Josh Irfan, JHR Developments, +0.900s
15. Arthur Rogeon, Rodin Motorsport, +0.965s
16. Shawn Rashid, VRD Racing by Arden, +1.172s
17. Hugo Schwarze, Elite Motorsport, +1.323s
18. Rishab Jain, Chris Dittmann Racing, +1.816s
19. Flynn Jackes, Chris Dittmann Racing, +1.962s
20. Seb Murray, Chris Dittmann Racing, +2.182s