Five BRDC British F3 graduates were among the drivers taking part in an official three day test for the FIA F3 Championship at Valencia this week.

2019 champion Clement Novalak and his season-long rival Johnathan Hoggard were both in action, while the two other most recent champions Enaam Ahmed and Linus Lundqvist also took part, as well as Billy Monger.

Lundqvist, British F3 champion in 2018, was the fastest of the quintet, setting a time of 1m21.372s in yesterday’s morning session while driving for Campos Racing. The Swedish driver, who also sampled HWA machinery during the test, was just over half a second off the overall pace for the entire three day test. Lundqvist drove on the opening two days of the test.

Hoggard was less than a tenth of a second away from Lundqvist’s pace, setting his best time of 1m21.448s with the Sauber Junior Team by Charouz. Hoggard participated in the opening two days of the test before heading back to the UK for this week’s Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year assessments at Silverstone.

Ahmed also took part in the opening two days before heading to Silverstone, and was a couple of tenths away from Hoggard’s time, with his best effort also coming in yesterday’s morning session while driving for Campos Racing alongside Lundqvist, having evaluated the Prema car on day one.

Newly-crowned British F3 champion Clement Novalak drove the FIA F3 car for the first time on day two with Carlin, and remained with the team on day three, with his best effort being exactly a tenth of a second away from Ahmed’s effort.

Monger meanwhile, a competitor in Euroformula Open this year after impressing in British F3 in 2018, participated in the test on day one and three, both times with Carlin, and set a best lap of 1m23.507 as he adapted to the latest step up the single seater ladder.

The overall fastest time of the three day test (1m20.860s) was set by Christian Lundgaard on day two, driving for ART Grand Prix.

Image credit: FIA Formula 3