Ferrari quickest Barcelona 2003-02-03

Ferrari reigned in Spain when testing continued at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona today, where Rubens Barrichello took the fastest time followed by Michael Schumacher. Barrichello's quickest was 1:16.900 over sixty four laps, Schumacher just under four tenths of a second behind. The pair worked on a Bridgestone tyre programme.

Third quickest was the Toyota of Cristiano da Matta, completing the second of a four-day test for the team. The Brazilian racked up 77 laps and carried out set-up work and tyre testing. It was da Matta's first run at the circuit with the new TF103 and he is so far happy with progress.

Jarno Trulli and Allan McNish were on duty for Renault, fourth and eleventh fastest respectively, and Jenson Button fifth in the BAR. Button's team mate Jacques Villeneuve was eighth and they completed 134 laps between them for BAR.

Sauber's Nick Heidfeld set the sixth time of the day and was pleased with the reliability and speed of the new C22. Heidfeld worked on aerodynamics and Bridgestone tyres and continues tomorrow. Heinz-Harald Frentzen takes over on Wednesday when Heidfeld heads to Lurcy-Levis in France for straightline testing work.

Antonio Pizzonia was the sole Jaguar on track. Behind the wheel of the R4, Pizzonia tested new tyre compounds and evaluated the new engine and gearbox. He was seventh fastest.

Williams continued its test session with Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher, the pair ninth and tenth. Despite the lowly standings there were no problems for either driver and the team was pleased with the reliability of the FW25 -- Montoya and Ralf managed 103 laps between them, testing the new BMW P83 engine and Michelin tyres as well as individual chassis components.