The session was wet throughout and the Australian found himself some clear air to work on the set-up of his car while most of his rivals ran around in spray and traffic.
"I knew there was more to come half way through the session so I left the car the same and when I pushed again I started to feel that it was working," he told autosport.com.
"I didn't want to be in traffic because when you're following or passing people you don't get a chance to fully feel what your car is doing. It's only practice so being quickest doesn't mean that much, but it's definitely a good sign."
The wet conditions caught most drivers out, with several cars sliding off the track more than once and two red flags breaking up and eventually ending the 50-minute session.
Abay's Carlin Motorsport teammate Oliver Turvey was second quickest, with Marcus Ericsson (Fortec Motorsport) in the top three again.
Jaime Alguersuari made it three Carlin cars in the top four, ahead of the second Fortec of Sebastian Hohenthal and the lead Raikkonen Robertson car of Atte Mustonen.
Jay Bridger this time led the National Class runners, seventh overall, ahead of Nick Tandy in the first Mygale.
Oliver Oakes ended his first day in the series in ninth place after a strong performance in the rain where he ran fourth for much of the session.
"It's not bad for the first day," he said. "The car felt good, particularly in the first half of the session, and I think we'll be quick if it's a wet weekend."
Pos Driver Team Car Time Gap Laps 1. Sam Abay Carlin D/M 1:24.226 18 2. Oliver Turvey Carlin D/M 1:25.367 +1.141 26 3. Marcus Ericsson Fortec D/M 1:25.442 +1.216 24 4. Jaime Alguersuari Carlin D/M 1:25.494 +1.268 25 5. Sebastian Hohenthal Fortec D/M 1:25.508 +1.282 23 6. Atte Mustonen Double R D/M 1:25.892 +1.666 18 7. Jay Bridger Fluid (N) D/H 1:26.088 +1.862 21 8. Nick Tandy JTR M/M 1:26.127 +1.901 18 9. Oliver Oakes Eurotek D/M 1:26.166 +1.940 20 10. John Martin Double R D/M 1:26.365 +2.139 11 11. Sergio Perez T-Sport D/H 1:26.367 +2.141 23 12. Walter Grubmuller Hitech D/M 1:26.431 +2.205 22 13. Max Chilton Hitech D/M 1:26.458 +2.232 24 14. Brendon Hartley Carlin D/M 1:26.804 +2.578 25 15. Esteban Guerrieri Ultimate M/M 1:26.890 +2.664 17 16. Ricardo Teixeira Ultimate M/M 1:27.023 +2.797 15 17. Michael Devaney Ultimate M/M 1:27.041 +2.815 15 18. Andy Meyrick Carlin (N) D/H 1:27.119 +2.893 25 19. Alistair Jackson Double R D/M 1:27.827 +3.601 18 20. Henry Arundel Double R D/M 1:28.523 +4.297 21 21. Kristjan Einar Carlin (N) D/H 1:29.361 +5.135 22 22. Viktor Jensen Nexa D/H 1:29.390 +5.164 26 23. Philip Major Fortec D/M 1:29.471 +5.245 24 24. Hywel Lloyd CF (N) D/H 1:29.727 +5.501 13 25. Steven Guerrero T-Sport (N) D/H 1:30.674 +6.448 21 26. Salman Al-Khalifa T-Sport (N) D/H 1:31.742 +7.516 20 27. Niall Quinn Loctite (N) D/H 1:31.910 +7.684 19 28. Craig Reiff Nexa (N) D/H 1:32.383 +8.157 25(D/M = Dallara Mercedes, M/M = Mygale Mercedes, D/H = Dallara Mugen-Honda)
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