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South African Raoul Hyman impressed on his return to the cockpit when he ended up seventh on the first day of the Official GP3 test week at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Hyman has not raced for eight months since a few Formula 3 outings earlier in the season and being one of 16 drivers selected to the Motorsport South Africa Development Program, but the London lad from Durban was quickly up to speed.

Testing with the DAMS team on the first day, Raoul was on the pace against a quality field all driving 2016 GP3 machinery, many of whom had raced in the GP3 finale at Yas Marina over the past weekend.

“It was great to be back in a race car again,” Raoul reported. “More importantly, I am delighted with my performance on the first day, considering most of the field know this car well. “With a little more time in the car, we can pick up the pace through the coming days and set times that will help me secure a competitive seat for the 2017 GP3 season."

Raoul Hyman enjoyed a positive karting career in South Africa and Europe before stepping up to the British Formula 4 in 2012, a series he came close to winning in 2013. A few Formula 3 drives followed but Raoul sat out most of 2016. The GP3 championship races alongside Formula 1 and is generally seen as the penultimate step into F1.