Report
Lloyd quickest on opening day of in-season testing in Silverstone
Ella Lloyd got off to a flying start on Day 1 of the in-season test at Silverstone, going fastest out of the blocks in the morning with an unbeatable 2:01.568.
Feeling right at home, the McLaren driver beat compatriot Alisha Palmowski to the top spot by just 0.023s, while Lisa Billard recorded a top-three time on her first appearance at the track.
In the afternoon, Payton Westcott led the way, putting the #9 Mercedes operated by PREMA Racing car top with a 2:01.779 ahead of Palmowski and Lloyd.
MORNING
After ticking off their installation laps and systems checks, ALba Larsen kicked off the series’ first day of running at the British circuit. However, Lloyd set the first proper lap with a 2:06.931, only to be immediately beaten by the Ferrari driver who went half a second quicker.
The pair continued to exchange personal best across the first 25 minutes, dropping the time to beat down into the 2:02s. Lloyd showed no signs of slowing down, lowering the benchmark across three consecutive fastest laps to a 2:01.839, six tenths ahead of Larsen.
As the McLaren driver headed into the pits, the timing screens quickly filled up. Gatorade’s Lisa Billard sliced the gap down to 0.080s until Alisha Palmowski went to the top spot mid-way through the second hour. Initially posting a 2:02.764 to go fastest, the Red Bull Racing driver strengthened her position with a 2:01.591, giving her a two tenths advantage over Lloyd.
Lloyd retook the top spot into the final hour, going quickest of all on a 2:01.568. Soon afterwards, the #20 Rodin Motorsport car triggered a brief Red Flag appearance after going off into the gravel at Turn 11.
Once running resumed, the focus shifted to mileage. Lloyd’s effort remained untroubled to the chequered flag, beating Palmowski by 0.023s, with Billard a further three tenths back in third.
Rachel Robertson followed close behind in fourth ahead of fellow rookie Payton Westcott. MP Motorsport teammates Larsen and Nina Gademan wound up in P6 and P7 ahead of Standings leader Emma Felbermayr. Ava Dobson was the ninth-fastest while Ella Stevens rounded out the top 10.
AFTERNOON
Hitech were the first to filter through, with Dobson posting an initial lap on a 2:07.450. Her teammate Robertson soon lowered the benchmark into the 2:04s, but the PUMA driver’s effort would be swiftly beaten by Westcott.
Setting the early pace, the Mercedes driver went fastest with a 2:02.730 and continued to improve to a 2:02.488. Palmowski slotted into P2, over seven tenths down on the American with Dobson, Mathilda Paatz, and Billard close behind.
Lloyd picked up where she left off, going quickest with a 2:02.189. However, the McLaren’s time at the top would be brief as Westcott reassumed the P1 spot on a 2:01.779, while Megan Bruce moved up into second, 0.179s behind.
With less than 30 minutes to go, Palmowski came close to beating Westcott’s effort but was denied by just 0.009s. Lloyd and Bruce ensured there were three British drivers inside the top four on home soil, with the top four quartet separated by less than two tenths.
Billard finished fifth ahead of Larsen, Stevens and Rafaela Ferreira. Dobson was ninth-fastest once again ahead of LEGO Racing’s Esmee Kosterman in P10.
The drivers are set to get back out on track for Day 2 of testing at 09:00 local time (UTC+1), with five and a half hours of track time ahead of them.