ART Grand Prix concluded the 2026 FIA F3 pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with confidence and clarity. Across three demanding days, the French squad completed 593 laps and saw all three of their rookies establish themselves as contenders ahead of the Melbourne opener.
Although rivals such as Trident and Campos Racing topped individual sessions, ART consistently placed its drivers near the front, particularly during qualifying simulations. As a result, the team leaves Spain encouraged by both pace and progression.
Kato delivers on one-lap pace in 2026 F3 pre-season Barcelona testing with ART Grand Prix
Taito Kato showed composure and speed throughout the test. During the morning of Day 2, when lap times reached their peak, he secured third place with a 1:27.317, less than three tenths shy of the benchmark set by Trident’s Freddie Slater. He frequently featured inside the top ten across varying conditions, underlining his adaptability in mixed and dry sessions.
Reflecting on his performance, Kato, while speaking to Formula 3, said: “It was quite positive, I would say, especially on the new tyre performance runs. We were always fighting inside the top five these three days. So, I am quite happy with the result and overall it has been really good. Long-runs, we are struggling a bit. Today, obviously, on both the first set and second set of long runs, we were missing a little bit. But it was getting better and better. I think last run was quite nice. So, I think we have quite good confidence for Melbourne.”
While he acknowledged some difficulty over extended runs, he identified steady gains by the final afternoon. Consequently, he heads to Australia with belief in the package.
Gładysz gains confidence and consistency ahead of rookie F3 campaign
Meanwhile, Maciej Gładysz matched his team-mate’s speed during the crucial Day 2 morning session. He set a 1:27.320, just 0.003 seconds behind Kato, reinforcing ART’s presence at the sharp end. After a quieter start in mixed conditions on Day 1, he improved session by session. Across 200 laps, he prioritised consistency and race preparation.
Assessing his test, Gładysz said, “I think it was a really productive and positive test. We did lots of good stuff and improved every time. The first day was quite strong, the second day as well was quite strong, was even stronger.
“Today maybe got a little bit worse, but we tried some different stuff. But we know we are ready for Melbourne and also on the long runs we were quite strong. So, I’m looking forward to it. It’s a different track, but I’m quite confident going there.”
He emphasised development and long-run strength, both essential ahead of the season opener.
Le encouraged by early speed in Barcelona testing
Kanato Le also impressed, particularly during Day 1’s dry afternoon session when he briefly topped the timesheets before Slater improved late on. Across the three days, he remained competitive in performance runs and contributed valuable data in longer stints. After completing 48 laps on the final afternoon, Le expressed optimism about the team’s overall potential.
He said: “Honestly, I think it has all been pretty positive. I think from the start of day one, we’ve been really quick. I think it was better than we expected in terms of performance. We were always at the top for performance runs, so I think it’s a good sign going into Melbourne. I think we have the car, the pace to be at the front. So, I think we just need to work on some bits and I think we should be in really good positions to fight for the win in Melbourne.”
Le highlighted that the team exceeded its own expectations, a promising sign before competitive action begins.
ART Grand Prix confident ahead of 2026 F3 Melbourne opener after promising Barcelona pre-season testing
Overall, ART combined strong one-lap pace with improving long-run consistency. Campos Racing controlled portions of Day 2 and Day 3, while Trident demonstrated sharp outright speed. However, ART maintained steady competitiveness across all sessions.
Each rookie identified clear areas for refinement while expressing confidence in the car’s potential. That clarity provides direction as the team prepares for Melbourne. If testing form translates into race pace, ART Grand Prix will arrive in Australia ready to challenge at the front.
