Testers to tackle certain rain at Jerez

It is almost certain that Wednesday's opening day of the penultimate pre-season test at Jerez will be badly affected by rain.

One local report in the southwestern Spanish region is forecasting a 100 per cent chance of rain throughout the day.

The same report said rain is 99 per cent likely to fall on Thursday, while the probability rises again to 100 per cent for the fourth and final day, on Saturday.

Friday is therefore the only day that could see some dry running, with a slightly more than 50 per cent chance of rain.

Wednesday's near-certain rain is bad news for test drivers Paul di Resta and Fairuz Fauzy, who are respectively scheduled to be at the wheel of the Force India and Lotus cars.

"Force India are very serious about building me up as a driver. I have to work at that and I haven't got a lot of time," said Scot di Resta, 23, who is expected to drive on all Friday practice days this year except the new Korean GP.

Malaysia's Fauzy, meanwhile, will give Lotus' newly launched T127 its proper test debut on Wednesday, and it is believed he is also contracted to drive on the opening day of the forthcoming Barcelona test.