In his maiden Formula 3 test for ART Grand Prix, the championship team took their new 'rookie' and multi race-winning Formula Renault graduate of 2007, and helped him to circulate around the Spanish F1-test track in Valencia, in what one observer described as "sensational".

But as is becoming normal Jon was incredibly sanguine by his achievements. "It was a really good test for us, especially as it was really the first time I had to do some serious laps in this years car, with all of my 2008 Championship rivals also present. Unfortunately I was sat too low in the car from the start, which made using the brakes difficult, so the team made up a new seat for me, raised me higher in the car, and from that point on everything felt really good."

So good in fact that on used rubber Jon was not only the fastest driver in his team, but regularly set lap times in the top five fastest cars around the long and twisty Valencia circuit, successfully completing the scheduled two test days, in what he said was "a night and day difference in the car after we had adjusted the seat.

"For sure we were all very happy at the end of day two," Jon said afterwards. "The on-board data showed just how quick I was on old tyres. I think the team were quite shocked by the level of improvement coming from me just by a change of seat! All the engineers were happy and I think they were grinning just as much as I was!"

Jon is now at Estoril in Portugal for the second of the official European Championship F3 test days, where he admitted that "with more confidence, and I know it is growing stronger by the minute, I am really looking forward to what the future holds for me." 

"This team really are outstanding you know," he said before ringing off. "I would really like to thank everyone at ART Grand Prix for helping me settle in so quickly. I intend to repay their faith in me as soon as I can!"

Test Sheet 1
Test Sheet 2