A frustrated Jolyon Palmer was denied the chance to further improve his already impressive test times today (Thursday) as track delays and heavy traffic hampered the Brit on the final GP2 test day in Jerez.

After posting the third and fifth quickest times on the previous two days, he was unable to set a decent lap time on the final day to end 10th quickest overall.

In sunny but cold conditions, today's final day of testing was delayed whilst a damaged kerb was repaired. The subsequent hour-long repair resulted in the planned two sessions being combined into one.

A further three red flags then ensued before the field began to settle into their stride with Jolyon running 10th quickest at the midway point and remaining there until the chequered flag.  

Speaking afterwards Jolyon said: "This morning was very frustrating where we were caught out by numerous red flags and a lot of traffic so I struggled to get a decent lap in. This afternoon we did another very strong race run which was more positive. Overall I'm very happy with how the test has gone. The team are doing a great job and we are in the top five or six almost every time we run. Hopefully we can step it up another gear in Barcelona next week."

DAMS driver Davide Valsecchi ended the day quickest overall with Stefano Coletti second and Esteban Gutierrez third. GP2 testing continues next week at Spain's Circuit de Catalunya on 6-8 March.

Jerez, GP2 test session day three, overall combined results:

1. D Valsecchi, DAMS 1:25.567s
2. S Coletti, Scuderia, +0.103s
3. E Gutierrez, Lotus GP, +0.158s
4. G VD Garde, Caterham, +0.175s
5. M Chilton, Carlin, +0.234s
6. M Ericsson, iSport, +0.373s
7. T Dillmann, Rapax, +0.436s
8. J Calado, Lotus GP, +0.479s
9. N Melker, Ocean, +0.515s
10. J Palmer, iSport, +0.559s