Report

Granada goes fastest on opening day of Navarra in-season testing

9 September 2026

Natalia Granada was the one to beat on Day 1 of in-season testing at the Circuito de Navarra. The Sephora driver logged a 1:46.906 to go quickest overall, beating Emma Felbermayr to the top spot in the afternoon by 0.187s.

In the morning, it was Alba Larsen who narrowly led the field. The Ferrari driver’s 1:46.926 was only 0.009s faster than Felbermayr’s best effort.

MORNING

Despite the dull conditions, everyone started off bright and early for their reconnaissance laps. However, it was down to Lloyd to get the first representative lap of the day on the board with a 1:50.935.

The McLaren driver had company on track in the form of Rodin Motorsport teammate Felbermayr, as the pair traded fastest laps before the Audi junior moved into P1 on a 1:47.753. Lisa Billard was next to go top and then improved by 0.495s across her next two laps to go quickest on a 1:47.171.

Rodin and ART Grand Prix were the only trios to clock in times within the first hour. Felbermayr delivered two more back-to-back personal bests to move ahead of the Gatorade driver, setting a 1:47.118.

Larsen was the fastest driver in the morning by 0.009s ahead of Felbermayr

Whilst the rest of the field eventually joined them on track, the top of the timesheets remained unchanged until Lloyd threw down a 1:47.109 in the final 40 minutes of running. Felbermayr bettered her effort, becoming the first driver to break into the 1:46s. Larsen then delivered the best time of the morning with a 1:46.926, pipping the Austrian to the top spot by 0.009s.

Lloyd finished in third ahead of Granada, Billard, Ella Stevens and Rafaela Ferreira. Nina Gademan was eighth-fastest, followed by Jade Jacquet and Rachel Robertson who completed the top 10.

AFTERNOON

It was a quick start to the second session, as Robertson set the benchmark at 1:49.070 before the PUMA driver lowered it by half a second. More flying laps followed in succession, with Billard, Kaylee Countryman and Felbermayr pushing further into the 1:48s.

Jacquet then moved out front on a 1:47.930, but Felbermayr was flying once again. She recorded three personal bests to lower the time to beat down to a 1:47.093, almost seven tenths ahead of Lloyd.

Billard sliced the gap down to 0.125s before the Red Flags were waved after her teammate Jacquet found the gravel at Turn 14. Once running resumed, Granada took over the mantle inside the second hour, setting the fastest time of the day on a 1:46.906.

Stevens was the busiest driver on Day 1, recording 77 laps around the Navarra track

There was another Red Flag with 15 minutes left on the clock after Billard stopped on track. Once her #14 car was cleared away, there was time for a final run but nobody could unseat Granada’s hold on the top spot.

Felbermayr and Robertson rounded out the top three ahead of Billard and Ferreira. Lloyd was sixth followed by Jacquet. MP Motorsport teammates Gademan and Larsen finished eighth and ninth, with Payton Westcott ending the day in 10th.

Due to travel disruptions, Alisha Palmowski did not take part in today's sessions.

The second day of in-season testing at the Circuito de Navarra is due to get underway at 08:30 local time (UTC+2) on Thursday.