Ferrari test driver, Marc Gene topped the times at
Jerez on Tuesday, ahead of the final race of the season next weekend in Brazil.
The Spaniard competed 102 laps, his best a 1 minute 17.805 seconds, over a second up on fellow Ferrari test driver, Luca Badoer, who was second in the sister car. Both drivers were focusing on the development of
Bridgestone tyres. Ferrari number one driver,
Michael Schumacher will now join proceedings on Wednesday, when he takes over from Gene.
Alex Wurz meanwhile was third for
Williams, the Grove-based squad already looking ahead to 2007, as they continued work with a modified FW28 fitted with the
Toyota V8 engine they will use next season. Wurz's best was a 1 minute 19.549 seconds, nearly 2 seconds off Gene.
The Austrian completed 109 laps in total, while Narain Karthikeyan was also on track for Williams, although he managed only 11 laps due to mechanical problems.
“Alex and Narain were driving today with the new gearbox and Toyota engine in both cars,” explained Williams test team manager, Mike Condliffe. “Alex completed a front tyre construction test in the morning and we then moved onto a race distance run in the afternoon which was successfully completed. We carried out some engine mapping work on Narain's car before we had some teething problems which prevented us completing all the running we had planned. The team will continue working on the car tonight to be back on track tomorrow.”
GP2 champion, Lewis Hamilton was the only other runner in action, the Brit concentrating on a 50 kilometre shakedown of the two cars the squad will use this week on Wednesday and Thursday, when he will be joined by Pedro de la Rosa. Hamilton did 11 laps in total, his best a 1m 22.916s, which put him fourth quickest on the day's timesheets.
Testing now continues on Wednesday.
Leading times (October 10) - Jerez:
1.
Marc Gene Ferrari-Ferrari
1minute 17.805seconds 102 laps B
2.
Luca Badoer Ferrari-Ferrari
1min 18.789secs 71 laps B
3.
Alex Wurz Williams-Toyota
1min 19.549secs 109 laps B
4.
Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
1min 22.916secs 11 laps M
5.
Narain Karthikeyan Williams-Toyota
1min 23.550secs 11 laps B
B denotes Bridgestone tyres / M denotes Michelin tyres
Weather / Track conditions: Dry, sunny with gusty winds.
all times unofficial - courtesy of Williams
