The GP3 Series was back on track today at Barcelona for the start of the final official pre-season test.

After rain yesterday and overnight the teams arrived at Circuit de Catalunya to a damp track this morning. With temperatures hovering around 14 degrees the track was slow to dry and it was Daniel Morad who was first to brave the conditions for Status Grand Prix. Over the next three hours a total of 414 laps were completed, with the session marred by a number of red flags as the young drivers adjusted to their first damp GP3 test.

ART Grand Prix were one of the last teams to take to the track but it didn't stop them picking up where they left off in Le Castellet two weeks ago. This time it was Esteban Gutierrez who posted the top time in the number two car. His time of 1:37.850 was seven tenths quicker than second place man Renger Van Der Zander for Mucke, and nearly one second quicker than teammate Alexander Rossi in third who posted a time of 1:38.738.

After topping the time sheets in Le Castellet two weeks ago, Nigel Melker continued his good form in fourth spot posting a time of 1:38.874, closely followed by newly-signed Carlin driver Dean Smith in Fifth. Seven different teams filled the top ten spots, with an impressive drive from Tech 1 Racing's Doru Sechelariu. The young Romanian finished in the top ten for the first time since joining the series, posting the seventh quickest time of the morning and running in the top three earlier in the session. The top ten was rounded out by Michael Christensen (Arden), James Jakes (Manor) and Pablo Sanchez Lopez (Addax Team).

The three-hour afternoon session offered a few surprises and a few more red flags.

Despite ART keeping a firm grip on the coveted top spot, a few other drivers successfully added to the mix, but with 30 young drivers testing their limits we saw more interruptions during the dry session.

Mexican Esteban Gutierrez posted a time of 1:37.480 to claim the number one spot again for the French outfit, nearly half a second clear of the rest of the pack. Second to the 18-year-old was Miki Monras putting in an impressive display for MW Arden. Posting a time of 1:37.928 the Spanish driver marked his first and the team's second visit to the top three. Taking third for Status GP was Robert Wickens with a time of 1:37.933.

Rounding up the top five was Renger van der Zande for Mucke Motorsport with a time of 1:38.008, and Dean Smith with a time of 1:38.016. Monras' teammate Michael Christensen finished sixth ahead of Mirko Bortolotti (Addax). Simon Trummer put in an impressive display for his team Jenzer Motorsport, finishing P8 with a time of 1:38.213. Ninth was Nigel Melker for Mucke Motorsport, and in tenth spot was the No. 1 car of Alexander Rossi (ART Grand Prix).

The reliability continued for the GP3 teams, with 1457 laps being completed over the two sessions over 4,163 miles in total.

Esteban Gutierrez, ART Grand Prix: I've been enjoying the test in Barcelona; it's been more interesting for me because the car behaves so differently to Circuit Paul Ricard. We've been using all of our data from the two previous tests and running to a really busy testing schedule, especially working on race set-up. Even though ART have been at the top of nearly every test session we never get over confident. I am ready for the first race, but as always we will keep trying to improve and keep pushing tomorrow.

Robert Wickens, Status Grand Prix: The last two tests we have been in the top five, and now the top three so we are moving in the right direction - although we still have some work to do to catch ART. I struggled this morning as quite a few of the teams did. The conditions weren't ideal and there were a lot of red flags, but I feel more confident now. Catalunya is one of my favourite circuits and I always seem to do well here so I can't wait for the first race.

Miki Monras, MW Arden: Despite being fast in the previous tests we have had problems with the car, but today went really well and all of our teething problems have been resolved. I feel much happier. The team are doing a fantastic job and trying different set-ups and I am sure we can catch up to ART by the first race - it's my home race and the track I know best so I am definitely more confident about getting a good result.