James Pull Leads the Way for Carlin in Ford MSA Formula Test at Rockingham

The penultimate day of collective pre-season testing at Rockingham circuit was dominated by Carlin’s super-talented array of drivers, with the experienced James Pull taking top spot on the timesheet.

Pull, who raced for both JTR and Fortec Motorsports in the series last season, has taken little time to settle into his new surroundings at Carlin. He put in an assured performance at Rockingham, where he already has a wealth of experience behind the wheel of Ford EcoBoost-powered machinery The 16 year-old was quickest of Carlin’s driver quartet in the morning session, but it was in the afternoon where he really came into his own, posting a time of 1:18.249 that would not be beaten.

The fastest man from last week’s test at Donington Park was once again a key player in proceedings. Max Fewtrell ended the day in second, less than half a tenth off of the time set by his teammate.

Fortec Motorsports’ Alex Quinn and TRS Arden’s Rafael Martins were the only drivers to break the Carlin stranglehold at the top; the former finishing third and the latter fifth. When the chequered flag finally fell Martins found himself sandwiched between Carlin’s Devlin DeFrancesco, as well as the recently re-signed Petru Florescu. Florescu provided additional excitement in the morning when carrying a little too much speed that sent him through the gravel and into a barrier at Pif-Paf, ultimately damaging the front of his car.

The day’s biggest improver was Richardson Racing’s Ben Sturge, improving upon his morning time by over a second in the afternoon. This proved to be enough to see him break into the top ten by close of play. Testing resumes at Rockingham tomorrow with the 2016 Ford MSA Formula season launch also taking place. Today’s drivers will be joined by the likes of TRS Arden’s Luis Leeds and JHR Developments’ Sennan Fielding who will no doubt be eager to knock the Carlin drivers off their perch.

Wednesday Morning – Combined Classification

1st – No. 33, Ross Martin*, GBR, Fortec, 1:18.218

2nd – No. 31, Max Fewtrell, GBR, Carlin, 1:18.377

3rd – No. 15, James Pull, GBR, Carlin, 1:18.471

4th – No. 1, Devlin DeFrancesco, CAN, Carlin, 1:18.547

5th – No. 10, Petru Florescu, ROM, Carlin, 1:18.571

6th – No. 3, Sennan Fielding, GBR, JHR Developments, 1:18.810

7th – No. 7, Alex Quinn*, GBR, Fortec, 1:18.823

8th – No. 21, Rafael Martins, BRA, Arden, 1:18.865

9th – No. 26, Luis Leeds, AUS, Arden, 1:18.890

10th – No. 93, Zane Goddard, AUS, Double R, 1:18.897

11th – No. 63, Nicolai Kjaegaard* DEN, Fortec, 1:19.306

12th – No. 88, Jack Martin, GBR, Arden, 1:19.314

13th – No. 12, Ayrton Simmons*, GBR, Arden, 1:19.448

14th – No. 23, Billy Monger, GBR, JHR Developments, 1:19.453

15th – No. 96, Jack Butel, GBR, JHR Developments, 1:19.621

16th – No. 8, Piers Prior, GBR, Falcon, 1:20.298

17th – No. 67, Frank Bird, GBR, Fortec, 1:21.396

18th – No. 5, Test Driver*, Scorpio, 1:22.705

 

Wednesday Afternoon – Combined Classification

1st – No. 10, Petru Florescu, ROM, Carlin, 1:18.405

2nd – No. 1, Devlin DeFrancesco, CAN, Carlin, 1:18.438

3rd – No. 26, Luis Leeds, AUS, Arden, 1:18.464

4th – No. 15, James Pull, GBR, Carlin, 1:18.490

5th – No. 7, Alex Quinn*, GBR, Fortec, 1:18.800

6th – No. 12, Ayrton Simmons*, GBR, Arden, 1:18.816

7th – No. 31, Max Fewtrell, GBR, Carlin, 1:18.852

8th – No. 3, Sennan Fielding, GBR, JHR Developments, 1:18.861

9th – No. 88, Jack Martin, GBR, Arden, 1:18.888

10th – No. 21, Rafael Martins, BRA, Arden, 1:19.132

11th – No. 96, Jack Butel, GBR, JHR Developments, 1:19.154

12th – No. 23, Billy Monger, GBR, JHR Developments, 1:19.273

13th – No. 93, Zane Goddard, AUS, Double R, 1:19.368

14th – No. 8, Piers Prior, GBR, Falcon, 1:20.045

15th – No. 67, Frank Bird, GBR, Fortec, 1:21.483

16th – No. 5, Test Driver*, Scorpio, 1:22.341

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