The FIA Formula 3 Championship moved on to Jerez for two days of offical testing which would provide a valuable opportunity for testing leading into Round 2 at Paul Ricard next month.
Conditions were fine and warm, with the cooler conditions likely to be more condusive to quicker times at this circuit. However on Day 1 the conditions were quite dusty on the surface of the track leading to a delay in many teams commencing hoping that others would run and improve the racing line.
In the morning session all progressed well for Calan who was following a structured program of testing and development over the weekend. His push laps went well placing him P7 for the session with a 1:29.96 and only 3 tenths from the top spot.
In the afternoon the focus would be on race runs which also progressed very well. There was a mix of programs across the field, but Calan would finish that session in P13.
Conditions were very similar for Day 2, however obviously the track was cleaner from the commencement of the session. The majority of the field started the session commenced straight away and Calan ran his remaining new tyres back to back in qualifying simulation runs.
In the afternoon session this focus would continue, however with no further new tyres in the allocation, his runs would need to be completed on the same tyres which were used but with just the flying laps from the morning session on them.
Completing four qualifying runs on the tyres Calan delivered exceptionally well. On each occassion he executed strong laps and was in fact quick enough to register a P7 result amongst a top 10 where all others used a remaining new set of tyres. To also be only 8 tenths off the P1 time set on new, was an exceptional performance.
With all objectives of this test met, and to have consistently executed a number of qualifying simulations successfully, Calan and the team now continue their preparations in Switzerland and look ahead to Round 2 in Paul Ricard next month.
All photos by Dutch Photo Agency