Testing continues in wet conditions

The poor weather conditions continued at Jerez today, with the rain curtailing most of the fifteen drivers present to less than fifty laps. Eight teams were present and Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello [*] topped the times with a 1:26.082 in the F2003-GA. The team had planned a technical programme but found it impossible to carry out in the heavy rain. Test driver Luca Badoer was present but never made it onto the track.

Second fastest was the BAR of test driver Anthony Davidson and the team also had Takuma Sato on track, fourth quickest. Sauber's Felipe Massa split the two BARs in third, focusing on race set-up in the morning until the afternoon when conditions deteriorated further.

Williams had Juan Pablo Montoya and test driver Marc Gené on duty, fifth and ninth fastest respectively. Montoya racked up the most laps of the day, 52, as the pair concentrated on tyres testing and set up. "It was wet all day today which enabled us to concentrate on intermediate and wet tyre testing with Michelin," said chief operations engineer Sam Michael.

"We also worked on various traction control and other electronic set up items. Juan Pablo did the tyre testing and Marc continued system checks with the new engine and gearbox. Juan Pablo Montoya and Marc Gené will both be undertaking testing duties again tomorrow."

Renault tester Franck Montagny was sixth quickest while race driver Fernando Alonso was a victim of the rain and only managed a few installation laps. Montagny continued with a tyre development programme started at previous tests in Valencia and Barcelona.

Jaguar had both Mark Webber and Christian Klien present, seventh and 12th respectively. McLaren test drivers Pedro de la Rosa and Alex Wurz were eighth and 14th, de la Rosa trying out the MP4-19 for the first time and Wurz behind the wheel of the MP4-17D. Wurz also did 2 laps in the 19 but did not set a time in that chassis. Toyota was the other team present, Olivier Panis 11th and Cristiano da Matta 13th.

Ferrari also had Luciano Burti on track at Fiorano, where the weather was better than at Jerez. In an F2002 chassis Burti worked on tyres and set a best of 1:02.175.

[*] Note: times vary according to different reports. Ferrari's report has Barrichello at 1:26.082, which makes him, provisionally at least, the fastest of the day.