Spa: Series Friday test notes

Chips up for Bertrand Baguette

On home soil at Spa-Francorchamps, Bertrand Baguette (International Draco Racing) gets off to a perfect start this weekend with the best performance in collective testing. The Belgian driver finishes ahead of Jaime Alguersuari (Carlin Motorsport) and Adrian Zaugg (Interwetten.com Racing).

Two new drivers are with us at Spa-Francorchamps to swell the ranks of the Formula Renault 3.5 Series line-up, in the shape of Tobias Hegewald (Interwetten Racing) and Alexandre Marsoin (Comtec Racing). Tobias Hegewald, 5th placed driver in the 2008 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 series, will be driving his first two races in the discipline, while Alexandre Marsoin enters the fray for his second season in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series.

Adrian Valles (Epsilon Euskadi) was the first man to get the action going. With a 2'07''440 lap, he was the early leader ahead of James Walker (P1 Motorsport), Fairuz Fauzy (Mofaz Fortec Motorsport), Bertrand Baguette (International Draco Racing) and Chris Van der Drift (Epsilon Euskadi), when proceedings were interrupted for a first time, after Alexandre Marsoin went off the track.

The International Draco Racing drivers were next to show their hand with Bertrand Baguette and Marco Barba taking turns to top the timing screens. The Spaniard got the better of the Belgian driver until Baguette reacted to take the lead back in 2'06''107. Baguette confirmed his leadership in 2'05''185 as the chequered flag approached. The two leaders were followed by Marco Barba, Adrian Valles, Charles Pic (Tech 1 Racing) and James Walker.

As the afternoon session got underway, it was the turn of Tech 1 Racing to set the pace. Charles Pic led ahead of Brendon Hartley, the driver whose third seat for the Formula One team Red Bull Racing was confirmed today. But the drivers defending the colours of International Draco Racing weren't in the mood to be overhauled. Bertrand Baguette took control of the session again, lapping in 2'05''605 ahead of team-mate Marco.

Miguel Molina (Ultimate Motorsport) put the pressure on mid-session, jumping to second place then taking over the lead. With a 2'04''709 lap, he went quicker than Bertrand Baguette's fastest time of the morning session. Charles Pic improved his time and moved up to second ahead of Baguette, Barba and Hartley. The standings were to be transformed though in the final minutes. Jaime Alguersuari went fastest with a 2'04''022 lap, with Adrian Zaugg (Interwetten.com Racing) and Marcos Martinez (Pons Racing) just behind. But Bertrand Baguette managed to reclaim leadership at his last attempt, to finish collective testing in the lead, with a 2'03''993 lap, ahead of Jaime Alguersuari and Adrian Zaugg.

Quote, unquote:

Bertrand Baguette: "I got in the time with my last lap. The only clear lap I got was with my last set of tires, so it's a good sign be ahead tonight. The car is a lot better than in Barcelona. We'll be competitive tomorrow. We're heading in the right direction."

Jaime Alguersuari: "I made a mistake in the last chicane, and I eased off the gas. So I don't know if my time is the true time. There's a lot left to do to if we're to finish ahead in qualifying tomorrow -- There are still one or two things I need to get to grips with, particularly with new rubber. I got a good start to the season in Barcelona. I need to carry on like that. I'm very motivated to do even better here."

Adrian Zaugg: "We lost time this morning with a wheel problem. This afternoon we made good progress and I'm pretty surprised at our position. I'm having to rediscover this car all over again - the Formula Renault 3.5 has evolved a lot in two years."

-credit: wsr