Antonio Felix da Costa was quickest in both sessions at Jerez today as GP3 resumed winter testing at the Spanish venue.
Portuguese driver da Costa contested several GP3 races with Carlin alongside his Formula 3 Euro Series campaign this season, but moved to the MW Arden team for the Jerez test. He led the way in both the morning and afternoon sessions today, despite some technical issues limiting his mileage in the latter.
Second-fastest in both sessions was one of da Costa's Euro F3 rivals, Alexander Sims. The Briton had taken part in some of the preseason F3 tests and returned to the category with his F3 team ART.
Championship frontrunner Nico Muller was third for Jenzer in the morning, followed by ART's James Calado and Michael Christensen, with Formula Renault 3.5 driver Albert Costa sixth for Tech 1. Christensen and Costa improved to third and fifth later on, split by the latter's teammate Aaro Vainio.
Other drivers getting a first taste of GP3 today included Formula Renault graduate Arthur Pic, the brother of GP2 race-winner Charles, European Formula 3 Open frontrunner Callum MacLeod and Eddie Cheever, son of the former Formula 1 and IndyCar star of the same name. The 17-year-old has raced in the Italian-based Formula Azzurra series this season.