Swede Marcus Ericsson has ended the Silverstone GP2 test at the top of the timesheets, setting the quickest lap of the two days of running aboard his iSport-prepared machine.

The 2009 Japanese F3 champion set his fastest time in the afternoon session, beating Germany's Christian Vietoris in to second spot. The Racing Engineering driver had topped the morning session but was unable to better his time after the lunch break.

Marcus Ericsson, iSport International | Photo: Octane Photos

With the quickest 14 times separated by less than eight-tenths of a second GP2 seems to be shaping up for another hugely competitive season. Ferrari reserve driver Jules Bianchi was third fastest with Dani Clos, Charles Pic and Romain Grosjean completing the top six. The likes of Mexican rookie Esteban Gutierrez, British hotshoe Sam Bird and series veteran Giedo van der Garde also showed pace, suggesting that little will be clear about the true running order until the season kicks off in Turkey next month.

GP2's second and final pre-season takes place in Barcelona on April 19/20. In the meantime, check out the awesome collection of images shot by our friends at Octane Photos, who were as happy as anyone that the rain held off on the second day of the Silverstone test.