PRACTICE: Stromsted heads the pack for TRIDENT in Spielberg

Noah Stromsted got his weekend off to the perfect start, ending Practice fastest for TRIDENT with a 1:22.410. He led Taito Kato, who delivered a late-session improvement to split the Italian team’s 1-2, with Freddie Slater rounding out the top three positions.

With installation laps complete, Yevan David set the early pace on a 1:24.837.

Stromsted was the next to go quickest, a 1:23.387 putting him comfortably fastest. Tuukka Taponen then deposed the Dane at the top before Hiyu Yamakoshi went even quicker with a 1:22.814.

Compatriot Jin Nakamura then put Hitech on top of the pile as he went onto a 1:22.693 to lead the pack with just over 20 minutes to go.

The times continued to tumble as Ernesto Rivera headed a Campos Racing 1-2 from teammate Théophile Nael as the Red Bull Junior Team driver set a 1:22.594 – 0.052s quicker than the Frenchman.

Stromsted then restored TRIDENT to the top as he set a 1:22.410 before the track quietened ahead of the final 10 minutes.

Teammate Slater then moved up the order to make it a 1-2 for the Italian team, 0.176s down on the Dane.

The track was then busy once again in the final minutes of the session, with plenty trying to find one final improvement ahead of Qualifying.

Kato was one of those who did improve late on, going up to P2 for ART at the chequered flag ahead of Slater.

Rivera and Nael led Campos’ charge in fourth and fifth, ahead of Nakamura. Pedro Clerot was seventh for Rodin Motorsport, ahead of Van Amersfoort Racing duo Bruno del Pino and Yamakoshi, as Kanato Le rounded out the top 10.

Qualifying for Round 4 in Barcelona is set to get underway on Friday afternoon, with the green light scheduled for 15:00 local time.