Mari Boya has once again topped the timesheets, setting the fastest lap for the second consecutive day at the in-season Formula 3 test in Barcelona. Campos Racing’s rising star clocked a morning session best of 1:27.034, narrowly outpacing his teammate Oliver Goethe.
The morning began with challenging wet conditions, as teams grappled with a damp track following overnight rain. Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Luke Browning initially led the pack with a time of 1:37.131 in the slippery conditions. As the circuit dried and slick tyres were fitted, Boya showcased his prowess by clocking a time of 1:30.277, positioning him at the top ahead of Alex Dunne from MP Motorsport and PREMA Racing’s Arvid Lindblad.
The drying track saw continuous improvements in lap times. Max Esterson of Jenzer Motorsport temporarily claimed the fastest time with a 1:28.174 towards the end of the session, but it was Boya who reclaimed his lead with a stellar lap of 1:27.034, cementing his and Goethe’s positions at the head of the field.
The afternoon session shifted focus to long-run simulations. Trident’s Leonardo Fornaroli set the pace early with a time of 1:28.444, leading his teammate Sami Meguetounif by a significant margin. The pair maintained their lead throughout the session, which was later disrupted by a red flag due to Joshua Dufek of PHM AIX Racing stopping on track.
As the test concluded, teams and drivers were left to analyse the wealth of data gathered over the three days. This crucial preparation sets the stage for the upcoming third round of the season at Imola on May 17, where the competitors will no doubt continue their battles on track.
