AS IT HAPPENED: Follow the action on Day 1 of post-season testing in Jerez

OVERVIEW

• Day 1 of post-season testing in Jerez
• Several new drivers confirmed for 2027 driving in Formula 3 for the first time
• Ernesto Rivera fastest in the morning session ahead of Enzo Deligny
• Follow the live timing here

JOIN US TOMORROW

The days always fly by at testing and with Day 1 in the books, it means we have just one more day of running here in Jerez.

Day 2 will once again start at 09:00 local time, and you can join us here to keep up to date with all the action from the Spanish venue. For now, stay tuned to the website and socials for all the reaction to today's running.

CHEQUERED FLAG

Well that brings an end to the day's action. Nakamura-Berta sets the pace on a 1:31.169.

Colnaghi and Rivera round out the top three, ahead of Maccagnani. Giusti is fifth, ahead of Egozi, Kato, De Palo, Wheldon, and Olivieri.

RED FLAG

We have our first stoppage of the day. Alexander Abkhazava has stopped on track at the chicane

TIGHT AT THE TOP

The TRIDENT-Campos battle continues to be close. Colnaghi has just gone to P2, 0.002s down on Nakamura-Berta.

Rivera is in third and he is only 0.011s away from the leading time.

10 MINUTES TO GO

Just 10 minutes are left in the session, and the track is still quite busy. Will we see anymore changes at the top of the timesheets?

NAKAMURA BERTA WITH THE FASTEST TIME OF THE DAY

Nakamura-Berta has just set the fastest time of the day. A 1:31.169 puts him on top by just 0.044s to his teammate Maccagnani.

STRONG EFFORT FROM POWELL

Alex Powell impressed with a final round podium in Madrid and he has picked up where he left off. He has just gone up to third on his latest lap.

DE PALO TO THE TOP

De Palo has used that fresher rubber to go fastest on a 1:31.456. Rivera has gone across the line but is a tenth away from the Italian.

DIFFERENT TYRE STRATEGIES

The pitlane is quiet which means the track is very busy. The likes of Rodin and ART have sent their drivers out on old Hard tyres.

On the other hand, MP, TRIDENT and Campos have all bolted on new Hards to their cars. Qualifying laps or race simulations?

SEEWOORUTHUN ON TESTING SO FAR

Reza Seewooruthun has just jumped out the car after his first race runs in the Formula 3 car. He even had a little wheel-to-wheel battle with Salim Hanna. Here is what he has had to say about his day so far:

"It's been good so far. It's very different to any of the other car I've driven. It's obviously a big step from FREC, but you can carry some things from FREC into this, which is good.

"That's the reason why we did it, to learn more coming into this. I'm really enjoying it. The car's amazing, the braking's amazing, the high speed is amazing. There's so much more grip, power, everything.

"It's just a really fun car to drive. We just had our first race run there and that was a new experience as well, with all the tyre deg and stuff, but things are going well."

THE AFTERNOON PLAN

As of right now, long runs look to be the focus. Many drivers have done practice starts at the pit exit before going out on track and doing a race stint.

While qualifying pace is very important, handling a race distance is critical in Formula 3, especially when it comes to managing tyre performance. A key skill many of the rookies will be learning and the returning drivers will be looking to improve on.

CAMPOS AND TRIDENT RESUME BATTLE

They have been the top two teams in each of the last two seasons, and they have resumed their battles once again here in Jerez.

Campos and TRIDENT make up six of the top seven in the leaderboard - Maccagnani, Rivera, Colnaghi, Nakamura-Berta, Hanna, Francisco Macedo (Van Amersfoort Racing) and Wheldon

MACCAGNANI TAKES OVER

Niccolò Maccagnani is now quickest on a 1:31.632. A good lap from the TRIDENT rookie.

A FEW WORDS FROM RIVERA

We caught up with the Mexican driver at the end of the morning session to get his thoughts on the day so far.

"We finished P1 in the morning session, on the first run as well. It's good to be back here. Already on the first run we were trying to improve from last year's performance, and it went quite well."

RIVERA LEADS AGAIN

Fastest in the morning and now he is on top in the afternoon. Rivera currently sets the pace on a 1:31.784, just under two-tenths clear of teammate Colnaghi.

🟢 GREEN LIGHT FOR THE AFTERNOON

We are back underway! Campos Racing have immediately sent out their drivers.

CHEQUERED FLAG

That wraps up the morning session. Rivera ends up on top ahead of Deligny and Colnaghi.

Rest of the top 10 - Alessandro Giusti, Alexander Abkhazava (pictured), Keanu Al Ahzari, Maciej Gladysz, Miguel Costa, Kanato Le, and Matteo De Palo

DELIGNY MOVES UP TO P2

Enzo Deligny has broken the Campos 1-2. He goes up to second place, just 0.188s down on Rivera.

30 MINUTE UPDATE

We are heading into the final part of the morning session, and the track is busier than ever.

Most have old tyres on, while MP have bolted on some new Hards on their three cars. We are also seeing a few practice starts at the end of the pitlane.

COLNAGHI MAKES IT A CAMPOS 1-2

Colnaghi has now gone up to P2, 0.301s down on his teammate, with Niccolò Maccagnani in third for TRIDENT.

RIVERA GOES QUICKEST

Rivera is now fastest on a 1:31.677 as champions Campos Racing make their first move of the day. He is over six-tenths quicker than Costa

COSTA TO THE TOP

Miguel Costa for DAMS has made a fine start to the test. He was running third early on, but has now just gone fastest on a 1:31.829.

HITECH MOVE UP THE LEADERBOARD

Keanu Al Ahzari has just gone up to second, 0.087s down on De Palo. Teammate Kanato Le is just behind in third.

CAMPOS HEADING OUT ON MEDIUMS

Plenty of drivers are setting fast laps out on track. Back in the pitlane, Campos Racing have their three drivers ready to go on the Medium tyres.

For this week, they have four sets of Hards and two sets of Mediums.

DE PALO TAKES OVER

Matteo De Palo now has the quickest time of a 1:32.353. He is just under three-tenths quicker than Egozi.

The Italian has now improved to a 1:31.867 with Gladysz over half a second behind in P2.

EGOZI IMPROVES

Another impressive effort from the American. This time he completes a 1:32.680 to lead Maciej Gladysz by half a second.

EGOZI LEADS THE WAY

James Egozi clocks the fastest time of the morning so far. A 1:34.526 puts him over sev-tenths clear of his teammate Dion Gowda.

MP Motorsport gave just sent out their trio of drivers.

AIX HEAD OUT

The three drivers in the AIX cars have just headed out of the pitlane on brand new Hard tyres.

UPDATE FROM THE PITLANE

There is a lot going on at each team, as mechanics work on the cars and the drivers talk things over with the engineers.

But the main thing is that many of them have fitted new Hard tyres on to their cars, which tells us we are not too far away from some flying laps?

WHAT TO EXPECT

Do not expect a lot of flying laps early on. At the moment it will be installation laps, as the drivers look to get comfortable in the car and the teams check everything is working well.

There are many new tyres ready and waiting for when the action truly gets going.

🟢 GREEN LIGHT

Day 1 of post-season testing is underway!

SUN COMES THROUGH

The sun has started the rise here, the engines have been fired up and we are just under 20 minutes away from the start of today's action.

GOOD MORNING

Good day everyone and welcome to Jerez. It is still quite dark here as the sun starts to rise, and we are not far away from the start of post-season action here.