ART Grand Prix's Nobuharu Matsushita set the fastest time during the opening day of FIA Formula 2 Championship pre-season testing in Barcelona on Monday, setting a best time of 1:29.061 in the afternoon.
The test began under gloomy conditions before the sun began to break through before lunch, meaning the majority of quick times came after lunch.
Matsushita's leading time was set just 80 minutes after lunch and despite the best efforts of his rivals, was never beaten, although team-mate Alexander Albon and Arden's Norman Nato came closest, setting identical lap times.
The pair's 1:29.157 meant they finished second and third fastest, with Albon claiming the higher spot as a result of setting the lap earlier in the afternoon.
McLaren-Honda development driver Matsushita, comfortable with his effort, spent the remainder of the session practicing pit stops with his team.
Racing Engineering's Gustav Malja was fourth fastest, just under two-tenths slower than the quickest lap as he completed 41 laps during the six-hour session.
The DAMS of Oliver Rowland split the Rapax pairing of Johnny Cecotto and Nyck de Vries in fifth and seventh respectively, whilst Louis Delétraz, Luca Ghiotto and Nicholas Latifi completed the top 10.
Ferrari Academy Driver Charles Leclerc was 12th overall for Prema, while former F1 racer Roberto Merhi was last for Campos, more than 2.5 seconds off the pace.
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