John Bennett played a starring role as several GB3 graduates commenced FIA F3 testing programmes at Jerez on Tuesday.
The 2024 GB3 runner-up set the third fastest time of the day, having enjoyed a spell at the top of the times late on for Van Amersfoort Racing.
Bennett was just 0.145s away from the outright pace, with Martinius Stenshorne and Mari Boya the only drivers ahead of him, and with significant F3 experience.
Roman Bilinski, a multiple GB3 race winner in 2021 was also inside the top-10 with the ninth quickest time for Rodin Motorsport.
Ugo Ugochukwu, who contested a partial GB3 campaign this year, also impressed by going 11th fastest, having recently confirmed his place on the F3 grid next year with Prema.
Javier Sagrera, with multiple years of GB3 experience behind him was 16th, and Gerrard Xie 25th, and another confirmed to graduate with Hitech.
Newly crowned GB3 champion Louis Sharp commenced his F3 programme with Rodin, and was 26th, having shown top-10 potential for much of the day.
Jose Garfias was also in action, with testing continuing tomorrow.