• Abu Dhabi Young Driver Test

Da Costa fastest on second day

ESPN Staff
November 7, 2012

Antonio Felix da Costa recorded the fastest time on the second day of the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi. His time was two hundredths of a second slower than yesterday's fastest time, set by Kevin Magnussen.

"On a day like this, when the conditions are perfect for testing, and with two grands prix to go, I think the team needs to make the most of it and today I think we did that," da Costa said. "I'll focus now on the future and I think most sensibly that probably means a full season in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series next year."

Formula Renault 3.5 Series winner Robin Frijns take over at the wheel of the RB8 for the final day of testing.

Oliver Turvey finished just under half a second off the pace in his McLaren with Edoardo Mortara, who had taken over from Nicolas Prost in the Lotus, and Sauber reserve driver Esteban Gutierrez finishing third and fourth.

Gutierrez, who completed the heaviest workload with 94 laps, will be out on track again tomorrow. "The last sector of the track I find a bit tricky, especially turn 20," he admitted. "I don't have the confidence yet to push harder there."

Gary Paffett, who took out the McLaren in the morning before passing it to Turvey, was fifth fastest ahead of Johnny Cecotto Jr in the Toro Rosso and Giedo van der Garde in the Caterham.

Full report to follow.

     Driver                  Team                Time               Laps
 1.  Antonio Felix da Costa  Red Bull          1m 42.679s            62
 2.  Oliver Turvey           McLaren           1m 43.176s  + 0.497   62
 3.  Edoardo Mortara         Lotus             1m 43.418s  + 0.739   75
 4.  Esteban Gutierrez       Sauber            1m 43.485s  + 0.806   94
 5.  Gary Paffett            McLaren           1m 43.771s  + 1.092   41
 6.  Johnny Cecotto          Toro Rosso        1m 44.569s  + 1.890   76
 7.  Giedo van der Garde     Caterham          1m 46.106s  + 2.427   72

Esteban Gutierrez puts in the laps late on the second day © Sutton Images
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