GP3 Series leader Esteban Gutierrez was quickest in today's opening practice session at Silverstone, but it took a last-gasp effort from the ART driver to do the job.
Gutierrez used the final flying lap of the session to knock out a 1m53.547s effort, edging Manor's James Jakes from the top spot by a scant 0.008sec.
The top three were covered by less than 0.1sec, with Adrian Quiafe-Hobbs coming in just 0.06sec shy of Gutierrez's effort, while Oliver Oakes made it three British driver in the top four.
Gutierrez's closest title rival, Robert Wickens of Status, endured a difficult afternoon and found himself at the bottom of the time. The Canadian is carrying a 10-place grid penalty into this weekend's race from the previous round at Valencia.