Kato ends Spielberg test fastest on Day 2 for ART Grand Prix

Taito Kato and ART Grand Prix set the fastest time of the in-season Spielberg test, with the Japanese driver topping the morning session around the Red Bull Ring on a 1:20.297.

In the afternoon, AIX Racing’s Brad Benavides headed up the field, logging a 1:21.092 to wind up fastest.

MORNING

The morning session started with everyone heading out and getting to work, with Freddie Slater setting an early benchmark in the 1:21s. That was quickly bettered by teammate Noah Stromsted, who picked up from Day 1’s afternoon session with the fastest time and a 1:21.585.

The Dane then beat that on his next lap, lowering the time to beat to a 1:20.832 before the first Red Flag of the session arrived, with Kato stopping on circuit in his ART Grand Prix.

The Green Flags were waving once again and Stromsted delivered a 1:20.336 to further extend his advantage in P1 for TRIDENT.

A second Red Flag came with Woohyun Shin stopping on circuit in his Hitech. It was a short resumption as a third Red Flag was thrown, this time for Brando Badoer spinning off at the final corner.

After his earlier off, Kato returned to the track and set the fastest time of the test to that point, going P1 on a 1:20.297, while Louis Sharp put PREMA Racing in second.

Another Red Flag was out as teammate James Wharton stopped on circuit in his PREMA car with half an hour to run.

The session resumed once again but there were no further improvements in the order, leaving Kato fastest heading into the afternoon segment.

Sharp and Stromsted remained second and third fastest, ahead of Tuukka Taponen, Slater, Pedro Clerot, Hiyu Yamakoshi, Brando Badoer, Enzo Deligny and Maciej Gladysz, who rounded out the top 10.

AFTERNOON

AIX Racing and Brad Benavides wasted little time in the afternoon, heading out and opening the session with a string of fastest laps as he beat his own personal best several times over.

The American driver ultimately settled on a 1:21.092, a time that remained the best effort of the afternoon session despite the time remaining.

After a relatively quiet opening, plenty more drivers headed out as race runs became the focus for the remainder of the day.

There were a few improvements inside the top 10, with Brando Badoer going second just 0.037s down on Benavides’ earlier time.

Elsewhere, Van Amersfoort Racing kept their drivers busy, with Hiyu Yamakoshi logging the most laps in the afternoon with 66.

Behind Benavides and Badoer at the chequered flag was Genaro Trappa for Rodin Motorsport, while Freddie Slater and Fernando Barrichello completed the top five for TRIDENT and AIX respectively.

Yevan David was P6 for AIX ahead of Yamakoshi, Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi, Jin Nakamura and Théophile Nael, who completed the top 10 for Campos Racing.

Attentions now turn to Monte Carlo for Round 2 of the 2026 season from June 4-7.

2026 FIA FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP – SPIELBERG IN-SEASON TEST, DAY 2, MORNING SESSION

2026 FIA FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP – SPIELBERG IN-SEASON TEST, DAY 2, AFTERNOON SESSION

*All times deleted for Car 16 due to Technical Regulations infringement

*All times deleted for Car 20 due to failure to comply with tyre allocation