PRACTICE: Ugo Ugochukwu leads the way in opening Melbourne session

Ugo Ugochukwu set the pace in the opening session of the Melbourne weekend, the Campos Racing driver completing a 1:34.607 to top the times in Free Practice.

Rodin Motorsport’s Brando Badoer was second to Ugochukwu, 0.427s behind, with TRIDENT’s Noah Stromsted in third.

Bruno del Pino led the way early on for Van Amersfoort Racing with a 1:36.589 before PREMA Racing’s Louis Sharp eclipsed that by 0.511s.

As track conditions improved, several drivers took to the top though, with Stromsted, José Garfias, Brad Benavides and Alessandro Giusti all going to P1, until Ugochukwu, took over on a 1:34.859.

Entering the final 20 minutes of the session, the Campos Racing driver continued to lead the way ahead of Stromsted, who had to closed to within 0.197s, while teammate Théophile Nael went to third.

Ugochukwu then lowered the benchmark time on his next flying lap, completing a 1:34.607 to lead the field by nearly four-and-a-half tenths.

After a brief stint in the pitlane, the drivers returned to the track for the final 10 minutes, with Rodin’s Badoer jumping up to P2 and Pedro Clerot going to seventh.

With just over five minutes left to go, the Red Flags were waved with Mattia Colnaghi having stopped on track at Turn 1.

There was not enough time to restart to the session, leaving Ugochukwu on top by 0.429s ahead of Badoer, Stromsted, Nael and Alessandro Giusti. Benavides was sixth ahead of Clerot, Nicola Lacorte, Christian Ho and Sharp.

The drivers will be out on track at Albert Park for Qualifying later today at 14:00 local time.