Palmowski tops the times on opening day of Zandvoort in-season test

Alisha Palmowski was the driver to beat on Day 1 of in-season testing, sweeping both the morning and afternoon sessions around the Circuit Zandvoort.

The Red Bull Racing driver set the pace early into the morning running, clocking in a 1:37.146 to go fastest overall ahead of Alba Larsen. In the afternoon, the Standings leader followed that up with another strong performance, setting a 1:37.200 to go five tenths clear of Emma Felbermayr.

MORNING

The first session got off to a slow start, as driver put down only a handful of reconnaissance laps inside the first hour. Palmowski eventually kicked things off with a 1:40.241 and improved to a 1:37.146 across her next four laps, going two tenths quicker than Larsen who slotted into second.

Zoe Florescu brought out an early Red Flag after the Zandvoort Wild Card driver stopped at pit entry. Once running resumed, the field’s mileage increased but the top of the timesheets remained unchallenged.

There were three Red Flag interruptions inside the third hour. Rafaela Ferreira found the barrier at Turn 9, while Esmee Kosterman stopped at the exit of Turn 10. Lastly, Florescu stopped at Turn 3 with three minutes left on the clock and the session was not restarted.

As a result, Palmowski’s effort remained fastest ahead of Larsen. Ella Lloyd was third, 0.281s behind the Red Bull Racing driver’s time. Lisa Billard ended the morning in fourth followed by Felbermayr, Rachel Robertson, Nina Gademan, Ferreira, Kosterman and Natalia Granada, who completed the top 10.

AFTERNOON

Lloyd began setting times early into the afternoon session, setting a 1:43.869. The McLaren driver quickly beat her own effort, moving comfortably into the 1:39s.

Felbermayr fired in a 1:38.901 to go top, only for Rodin Motorsport teammate Lloyd to regain the fastest time by 0.062s. Billard continued to make the most of her first appearance at Zandvoort, delivering a 1:38.375 and then improving by over two tenths on her next lap to lower the time to beat to a 1:38.111, three tenths ahead of Palmowski.

Palmowski brought out a quick Red Flag shortly afterwards, with the Briton finding the gravel trap at Turn 7. Kosterman moved up into P2 once running resumed, until Gademan closed the gap to Billard down to 0.014s into the second hour.

Lloyd soon moved back out front on a 1:37.805s, which heralded a run of personal bests down the field. Felbermayr was next to go quickest on a 1:37.726, 0.046s ahead of Palmowski. The Red Bull Racing driver improved into the second hour, breaking five tenths clear of the #5 Audi car with a 1:37.200.

There was one further Red Flag interruption as Jade Jacquet hit the barrier at Turn 9, but nobody could beat Palmowski’s lap across the remaining hour of track time. Felbermayr remained in P2 ahead of Lloyd, Robertson, Granada and Gademan. Billard wound up in P7 ahead of Kosterman, Larsen and Payton Westcott.

Day 2 of in-season testing at Zandvoort is scheduled to get underway at 08:30 local time (UTC+1).