Power quickest in Knockhill test

Australian driver Will Power topped the testing times at Knockhill today, Friday, for this weekend's AVON Tyres British F3 Championship.

Power, who missed the races at Knockhill last season, took his Alan Docking Racing-run Dallara Mugen Honda to the best time of the day, just 42-thousandths of a second quicker than Indian driver Karun Chandhok. The Indian displayed his best form of the season so far to head off Silverstone winner James Rossiter who was third quickest.

Brazilian Lucas Di Grassi improved right at the end of the session in his Renault-engined Dallara to claim fourth fastest time ahead of Donington winner Clivio Piccione.

Adam Carroll, tenth quickest, lost an engine in the first session of the day and lost valuable track time, whilst Nelson Piquet jnr went off in the first session of the day. Although his car was not badly damaged, the Brazilian struggled to find a good set-up in the remainder of the session and ended the day only 15th.

Scholarship Class top dog Ryan Lewis also had an off, but despite wiping a corner of his T-Sport Dallara Mugen Honda, he still topped the times ahead of class rivals Barton Mawer and Adam Khan.

Expectations are strong that the category may produce its first 100mph lap at Knockhill in qualifying tomorrow. The top five cars in testing were under the lap record and a time at 46.9 seconds is expected to produce the 100mph lap. In favourable weather conditions it is expected that this could be done in qualifying rather than the races.

Qualifying takes place Saturday, with the two championship rounds on Sunday.

Testing times

1 Will Power Dallara Mugen Honda 47.022s
2 Karun Chandhok Dallara Mugen Honda 47.064s
3 James Rossiter Dallara Spiess Opel 47.110s
4 Lucas Di Grassi Dallara Renault 47.179s
5 Clivio Piccione Dallara Mugen Honda 47.197s
6 Ernesto Viso Dallara Mugen Honda 47.251s