On a 3D configuration and under the sunshine at Paul Ricard

DPR driver quickest in GP2 Series first day of last winter test session in Le Castellet For the last three-day test session of the year, the GP2 paddock flew to Paul Ricard this week. American Jake Rosenzweig at Super Nova Racing was the only newcomer on the track today.

On a 3D configuration and under the sunshine, DPR Michael Herck signed the best laptime this morning one tenth quicker than rookie Oliver Turvey at iSport International.

GP2 Asia race winner Christian Vietoris confirmed his good form: at the wheel of the Fat Burner Racing Engineer car, the German completed this morning’s Top 3, only five thousands slower than Turvey. Thirteen drivers posted times within one second and five rookies finished in the top 10.

In the afternoon session, Romanian Herck claimed again the top spot, improving his laptime by seven tenths. Already quick in GP2 Asia third season opening event in Abu Dhabi Fabio Leimer at Fat Burner Racing Engineering and Sam Bird at ART Grand Prix completed the Top 3, the Swiss ace finishing best rookie of the day. In fourth, Turvey kept on making a good impression while GP2 Asia Series leader Davide Valsecchi finished with the fifth quickest laptime of the day at the wheel of the second iSport car.

This test session will continue tomorrow at 9am local time and on a similar track configuration. Roldan Rodriguez (Racing Engineering), Jules Bianchi (ART), Marcus Ericsson (Arden), Josef Kral (Super Nova), Kazimeras Vasiliauskas (Trident), Andrea Caldarelli (Party Poker) and Antonio Felix da Costa (Ocean Racing) will join the session.

Morning results
1. Michael Herck ROM DPR 1:12.976 25
2. Oliver Turvey GBR iSport International 1:13.094 17
3. Christian Vietoris GER Fat Burner Racing Eng. 1:13.099 27
4. Jerome dÂ’Ambrosio BEL Barwa Addax Team 1:13.138 33
5. Sam Bird GBR ART Grand Prix 1:13.244 23
6. Fabio Leimer SUI Fat Burner Racing Eng. 1:13.266 37
7. James Jakes GBR Super Nova Racing 1:13.321 21
8. Alberto Valerio BRA DAMS 1:13.326 23
9. Karun Chandhok IND Party Poker Racing.com SC 1:13.373 15
10. Esteban Gutierrez MEX Telmex Arden International 1:13.439 32
11. Max Chilton GBR Barwa Addax Team 1:13.560 23
12. Alexander Rossi USA DAMS 1:13.562 37
13. Stefano Coletti MON Piquet GP 1:13.591 22
14. Davide Valsecchi ITA iSport International 1:14.004 16
15. Charles Pic FRA Ocean Racing Technology 1:14.267 29
16. William Bratt GBR Party Poker Racing.com SC 1:14.365 22
17. Rodolfo Gonzalez VEN Ocean Racing Technology 1:14.385 32
18. Vladimir Arabadzhiev BUL Piquet GP 1:14.519 29
19. Jake Rosenzweig USA Super Nova Racing 1:14.561 17
20 Jan Charouz CZE ART Grand Prix 1:14.639 31
21. Luiz Razia BRA Telmex Arden International 1:15.289 8
22. Kevin Nai Chia Chen USA Trident Racing 1:15:730 24
24. Plamen Kralev BUL Trident Racing 1:17.638 25

Afternoon results
1. Michael Herck ROM DPR 1:12.271 26
2. Fabio Leimer SUI Fat Burner Racing Eng. 1:12.619 31
3. Sam Bird GBR ART Grand Prix 1:12.746 14
4. Oliver Turvey GBR iSport International 1:12.764 28
5. Davide Valsecchi ITA iSport International 1:12.771 29
6. Karun Chandhok IND Party Poker Racing.com SC 1:12.786 23
7. Jerome dÂ’Ambrosio BEL Barwa Addax Team 1:12.839 20
8. James Jakes GBR Super Nova Racing 1:12.929 25
9. Stefano Coletti MON Piquet GP 1:13.032 26
10. Luiz Razia BRA Telmex Arden International 1:13.066 45
11. Esteban Gutierrez MEX Telmex Arden International 1:13.262 26
12. William Bratt GBR Party Poker Racing.com SC 1:13.303 18
13. Jake Rosenzweig USA Super Nova Racing 1:13.387 6
14. Alexander Rossi USA DAMS 1:13.402 36
15. Max Chilton GBR Barwa Addax Team 1:13.565 30
16. Christian Vietoris GER Fat Burner Racing Eng. 1:13.568 8
17. Alberto Valerio BRA DAMS 1:13.574 21
18. Vladimir Arabadzhiev BUL Piquet GP 1:13.710 39
19. Charles Pic FRA Ocean Racing Technology 1:13.802 31
20 Rodolfo Gonzalez VEN Ocean Racing Technology 1:14.049 37
21. Jan Charouz CZE ART Grand Prix 1:14.121 30
22. Giacomo Ricci ITA DPR 1:14.141 16
23. Kevin Nai Chia Chen USA Trident Racing 1:14.991 29
24. Plamen Kralev BUL Trident Racing 1:16.766 16

source: GP2 Series