TRS Arden’s Oscar Piastri fastest in both sessions in test at Rockingham.

22 MARCH, 2017 – Oscar Piastri and TRS Arden finished official pre-season testing for the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford in the best way possible; setting the pace at Rockingham Motor Speedway.

Piastri topped both the morning and afternoon sessions. The Australian recorded his best lap of 1m 18.817s in the afternoon to put him a tenth clear of the field, which saw the top eight drivers covered by little more than half a second. Carlin’s Logan Sargeant proved to be Piastri’s closest challenger. The American was the only other driver able to break the 1m 19s barrier, posting the second quickest time in both sessions.

Oliver York and Fortec Motorsports continued their fine run of testing form, earning third courtesy of a 1m 19.120s lap in the first session. Another top pre-season testing performer, Linus Lundqvist, was quickest of the Double R Racing charges. A time of 1m 19.140s earning him fourth fastest overall. Team-mate Karl Massaad also wound up inside the top 10 in ninth.

Ayrton Simmons and Alex Quinn were just three tenths behind fellow TRS Arden runner Piastri, ending the test fifth and sixth respectively; separated by a mere four thousandths of a second. Meanwhile Olli Caldwell was a further half second adrift. Patrik Pasma (Carlin) made significant gains in the afternoon. Having gone into the lunchbreak 12th fastest, the Finn climbed five places in the afternoon to seventh.

Harry Webb (Richardson Racing) was the day’s marathon man, completing more laps (126) than any other driver on his way to eighth. He was just over half a second off the quickest time, as he completed a comprehensive programme in a bid to further develop his understanding of the Hankook slick tyres.

Jamie Sharp had arguably his best day of pre-season testing behind the wheel of his Ford EcoBoost-powered racer. The Sharp Motorsport driver found himself consistently amongst the top 10 and was less than eight tenths of a second away from Piastri’s best when the chequered flag fell.

Daniel Cao continued to make progress with Double R. Finishing the test within a second of the fastest time, having been one of the top 10 quickest drivers in the afternoon. Jacky Liu and GW Motorsport made the biggest improvement in terms of lap time. Liu’s best of 1m 21.034s came in the afternoon, 1.426s faster than his quickest time from the morning.

Carlin’s Lucas Alecco Roy was another big improver, finding over a second during the course of the day’s running, finishing just ahead of Liu on the timesheets in 13th. Elsewhere, Ford F4 Challenge Cup entrant Lucca Allen ended the test 15th after another solid day’s work for Falcon Motorsport.

Attention now turns to the opening rounds of the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford which will take place at Brands Hatch Indy circuit on 1-2 April in front of bumper trackside crowds, and will be broadcast live on ITV4.

Testing times Rockingham 21 March 2017 (Session 1)

1^st – No. 81, Oscar Piastri, AUS, Arden, 1:18.939

2^nd – No. 31, Logan Sargeant, USA, Carlin, 1:18.964

3^rd – No. 5, Oliver York, GBR, Fortec, 1:19.120

4^th – No. 26, Linus Lundqvist, SWE, Double R, 1:19.260

5^th – No. 46, Alex Quinn, GBR, Arden, 1:19.276

6^th – No. 12, Ayrton Simmons, GBR, Arden, 1:19.311

7^th – No. 27, Karl Massaad, LBN, Double R, 1:19.524

8^th – No. 89, Jamie Sharp, GBR, Sharp, 1:19.593

9^th – No. 92, Daniel Cao, CHN, Double R, 1:19.797

10^th – No. 64, Olli Caldwell, GBR, Arden, 1:19.856

11^th – No. 2, Harry Webb, GBR, Richardson, 1:20.028

12^th – No. 21, Patrik Pasma, FIN, Carlin, 1:20.047

13^th – No. 29, Lucca Allen, IRL, Falcon, 1:21.251

14^th – No. 6, Lucas Alecco Roy, GER, Carlin, 1:21.360

15^th – No. 91, Jacky Liu, CHN, GW Motorsport, 1:22.460

Testing times Rockingham 21 March 2017 (Session 2)

1^st – No. 81, Oscar Piastri, AUS, Arden, 1:18.817

2^nd – No. 31, Logan Sargeant, USA, Carlin, 1:18.917

3^rd – No. 26, Linus Lundqvist, SWE, Double R, 1:19.140

4^th – No. 12, Ayrton Simmons, GBR, Arden, 1:19.143

5^th – No. 46, Alex Quinn, GBR, Arden, 1:19.147

6^th – No. 5, Oliver York, GBR, Fortec, 1:19.261

7^th – No. 21, Patrik Pasma, FIN, Carlin, 1:19.293

8^th – No. 2, Harry Webb, GBR, Richardson, 1:19.365

9^th – No. 64, Olli Caldwell, GBR, Arden, 1:19.677

10^th – No. 89, Jamie Sharp, GBR, Sharp, 1:20.030

11^th – No. 92, Daniel Cao, CHN, Double R, 1:20.059

12^th – No. 27, Karl Massaad, LBN, Double R, 1:20.095

13^th – No. 6, Lucas Alecco Roy, GER, Carlin, 1:20.274

14^th – No. 91, Jacky Liu, CHN, GW Motorsport, 1:21.034

15^th – No. 29, Lucca Allen, IRL, Falcon, 1:21.062