Kato edges Rivera in close second morning of F3 Barcelona testing

Taito Kato set the fastest lap of the Barcelona post-season test so far on Tuesday morning, putting ART Grand Prix ahead of Campos Racing’s Ernesto Rivera by just 0.012 seconds.

Kato’s 1:27.902 headed a tightly matched leading group at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Rivera finished second on a 1:27.914, while Rodin Motorsport pair Alessandro Giusti and Reza Seewooruthun took third and fourth.

Yevan David completed the top five for Van Amersfoort Racing with a 1:28.076, leaving the first five drivers covered by 0.174 seconds.

Kato lowers the benchmark

After Matteo De Palo led the opening day, the pace improved substantially on the second morning.

Giusti featured early, lowering the benchmark to a 1:28.450 before the first interruption. Rivera subsequently moved ahead with a 1:28.186 as he and Kato exchanged the leading position.

At the end of the opening hour, only 0.186 seconds separated the first seven drivers. Kato then delivered his decisive lap, with Rivera’s own improvement leaving the Campos driver narrowly behind.

Neither was displaced before lunch, while Giusti’s final 1:27.971 put him 0.069 seconds off the lead.

Two stoppages interrupt running

Dion Gowda brought out the first red flag after going off at Turn 8.

A second interruption followed later when Seewooruthun went into the gravel at Turn 10. Running resumed with 12 minutes remaining, but the leading order held through to the chequered flag.

The final afternoon session was scheduled for 13:00–16:00 local time (CET), completing the Barcelona post-season testing programme.