Marcus Armstrong has cut his first post-lockdown laps in a Formula Regional test at Misano, losing out on the fastest time by a mere 0.079s as fellow Ferrari Academy driver Mick Schumacher topped the rain-hit session.
Schumacher set the pace in the morning, lapping the 4.2km circuit in 1.31.338s for the Prema team.
The Italian outfit relied upon its FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3 drivers to assist in preparations for the forthcoming season.
Armstrong returned to Europe last month and was called upon by DR Formula to partake in the two-day test.
Having been pipped to the post in the opening session amid unpleasant weather conditions, Armstrong struck back by topping the afternoon session and finishing the day second on the overall timing sheets.
Prema’s new signing and reigning W Series champion Jamie Chadwick impressed on her FREC debut ending the day fourth, 7-tenths down on Schumacher at the head of the standings.
FIA F3 racer Logan Sargeant split Chadwick and Armstrong to end the day 0.049s behind the kiwi in third. The American driver will hand over the car to Prema F3 teammate Frederik Vesti for tomorrow’s session.
Only seven FREC cars participated in the test which was shared with the Italian Formula 4 championship which was headed by the Jenzer Motorsport-prepared car of Filip Igran
The Formula Regional European Championship will kickstart its curtailed season from Misano on August 2. This year’s champion will also receive an official FIA Formula 3 test under the watchful eye of the Ferrari Driver Academy.
| Pos | Driver | Team | Split |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mick Schumacher | Prema | 1m31.388s |
| 2 | Marcus Armstrong | DR Formula | +0.079s |
| 3 | Logan Sargeant | Prema | +0.128s |
| 4 | Jamie Chadwick | Prema | +0.783s |
| 5 | Emidio Pesce | DR Formula | +1.146s |
| 6 | Gillian Henrion | Gillian Track Events | +2.602s |
| 7 | Pierre-Louis Chovet | Van Amersfoort Racing | +2.866s |