Guenther tops first day of Formula E pre-season test

Maximilian Guenther and Maserati MSG Racing set the early pace in Formula E testing in Valencia.

Guenther on track in Valencia. (Malcolm Griffiths/FIA Formula E)

The German set the best time of 1:26.096 in the morning session before late rain dashed any chances of quick running in the afternoon.

René Rast set the first timed lap of 1:33.727 for McLaren before Sam Bird showed the first representative lap of 1:30.396.

Rast and Bird traded times before Jake Hughes, Oliver Rowland, and Pascal Wehrlein joined the party at the top of the time sheets, with Rowland the best for Mahindra after half an hour's running.

Temperatures rose sharply later in the session and the morning air dried out, setting the scene for Guenther to set the best lap ahead of Hughes and Rowland.

Drivers made the most of the warmer start to the afternoon with Edoardo Mortara and Jean-Éric Vergne setting early times before Jake Dennis and Sérgio Sette Camara had their say.

Guenther was back on track minutes later and continued his form at the top with a time of 1:26.221 before the skies opened.

Day one of testing was a positive showing for Maserati on the team's Formula E debut, with Guenther fastest of the day ahead of Jake Hughes and Antonio Felix Da Costa.

The rain was far from the only disruption to the day's track time, with red flags for Hughes and Sette Camara as their cars were both reported to have broken down on the same patch of Spanish tarmac.

There was limited running too for Norman Nato and Sebastien Buemi, who both had mechanical issues.

Clear skies and warmer temperatures are expected for the second day of testing, with lap times expected to fall.