Formula Renault 3.5 Series: Fortec's drivers fastest in Monaco Practice

Fortec Motorsports team shined during the collective test for Formula Renault 3.5 Series drivers at Monaco early today. The leader in the general classification Oliver Rowland led the way with a best time of 1:24.171, ahead of team mate Jazeman Jaafar. Lotus F1 Junior Team driver Matthieu Vaxiviere was third.

The V-8 powered Formula Renault 3.5 cars roared through the streets of Monaco from 8 in the morning. The drivers had 45-minutes to get the most out of the circuit on which they will race in Sunday, before F1 race.

Fortec Motorsports’ Jazeman Jaafar and Oliver Rowland were first on track and they set the pace. Just before the mid-way point, Sean Gelael (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin) went down the Mirabeau escape road before coming to a stop in the tunnel, which resulted in a pause in the session. Four minutes from the end, Tio Ellinas kicked-off the final sprint, while Matthieu Vaxiviere and Pietro Fantin made contact with the tire wall at Sainte-Dévote and Alfonso Celis spun out.

Oliver Rowland finished the session with a time of 1:24.171 ahead of Jaafar and Matthieu Vaxiviere. Tio Ellinas, Tom Dillmann Pietro Fantin, Meindert van Buuren and Nyck de Vries, top rookie on the day were next. Nicholas Latifi and Dean Stoneman rounded out the top ten.

Qualifying for the Formula Renault 3.5 Series will take place tomorrow from 9 in the morning.