Hitech's Deagen Fairclough demonstrated the potential of the upgraded Tatuus MSV GB3-025 car by smashing the circuit lap record time at Snetterton on day one of pre-season testing. 

The British contender and most recent winner of the Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award posted a 1m38.428s midway through session four, a full two seconds quicker than the best time managed in pre-season testing last year. His time was also 0.703s quicker than the outright lap record at the Norfolk venue, set by Felipe Nasr back in 2011. 

His time was all the more impressive considering it was Fairclough's first day in the upgraded machine, which features a 2.4 litre higher torque engine and aerodynamic refinements. 

The Hitech driver set the quickest time in three of the four sessions on the first day of testing, with his morning effort of 1m39.131s, also a lap record beater, remaining the benchmark for much of the day, before bolting on a set of new tyres in the final 45-minute test. 

He ultimately wound up 0.205s faster than Rodin Motorsport's Maxim Rehm, like Fairclough, a race-winner at Monza last year, while Cole Hewetson, driving for Xcel Motorsport was third quickest, just over half a second away from the top time. 

Another trialist, Elite's Edu Robertson, was fourth quickest, 0.026s away from Hewetson and 0.070s ahead of Rodin's returnee Abbi Pulling. 

Dante Vinci was the lead Hillspeed contender in seventh, a couple of tenths ahead of Hitech's Noah Lisle, with Elite's Kyuho Lee eighth and just over a second away from the ultimate pace. 

Flynn Jackes, eyeing a GB3 return with Elite was inside the top-10, which was completed by Xcel's Rowan Campbell-Pilling. 

A total of 21 drivers participated in testing today, with all bar two setting their best laps in the final session. 

Testing at Snetterton resumes tomorrow with four further sessions. 

GB3 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Snetterton day one top-10:
1. Deagen Fairclough, Hitech, 1m38.428s
2. Maxim Rehm, Rodin Motorsport, +0.205s
3. Cole Hewetson, Xcel Motorsport, +0.508s
4. Edu Robinson, Elite Motorsport, +0.534s
5. Abbi Pulling, Rodin Motorsport, +0.604s
6. Dante Vinci, Arden Motorsport, +0.671s
7. Noah Lisle, Hitech, +0.899s
8. Kyuho Lee, Elite Motorsport, +1.016s
9. Flynn Jackes, Elite Motorsport, +1.093s
10. Rowan Campbell-Pilling, Xcel Motorsport, +1.203s

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