23.01.2004 MICHAEL SCHUMACHER AND RUBENS BARRICHELLO TAKE TO THE TRACK IN BARCELONA

The second major F1 test of the new year ended this afternoon at Barcelona. The five day session has seen all the teams take part, except McLaren, who chose to run a private test at Valencia this week, and Minardi. Several teams, including Williams, Sauber, Toyota and BAR ran their new cars.

Ferrari joined the session on Tuesday as Rubens Barrichello and Luca Badoer got down to development testing duties in the F2003-GA, while World Champion Michael Schumacher got behind the wheel of an F1 car for the first time this year when he ran out for the team yesterday.

The Barcelona test kicked off on Monday, but only the Williams-BMW's of Ralf Schumacher and Marc Gene took to the track. Tuesday saw Ferrari, Renault, BAR, Sauber, Jaguar, Toyota and Jordan all join in. Regular Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello took to the track for the first time this year, alongside test driver Luca Badoer, with three of last years constructor's championship winning F2003-GA chassis at their disposal.

The technical programme for the first day centred on development work with tyres, electronics and engine. Barrichello completed a total of 65 laps, with a best time of 1.15.989, while Badoer did 56 laps, the quickest in 1.16.991. Ralf Schumacher posted the fastest time of the day with a 1.15.710, edging out his team mate Juan Pablo Montoya and Renault's Fernando Alonso.

Wednesday was the second day of testing for Scuderia Ferrari. Rubens Barrichello was out on track alongside Luca Badoer again. The technical programme for the day continued the development work on tyres, electronics and engine started the previous day. Barrichello completed a total of 71 laps, his best lap of 1.16.025 again saw him fourth fastest, behind Ralf Schumacher, Montoya and Alonso. Meanwhile, Badoer did 80 laps, his fastest of 1.16.984, putting him sixth, the Ferrari pair split by Jenson Button's BAR-Honda.

Yesterday saw Michael Schumacher out on track for the first time this year, alongside Luca Badoer, again the pair had three F2003-GA at their disposal. The programme continued to centre on development work with tyres, electronics and the engine. Schumacher completed a total of 95 laps, his best time of 1.15.408 putting him second overall on the timesheets, eight tenths of a second adrift of the flying Jenson Button, the BAR team surprising onlookers with the pace of their new Honda-powered car. Luca Badoer completed 87 laps, his quickest in 1.15.767 put him in fifth place.

Today saw the test wrapped up, with all the teams taking to the track, bar Jaguar who had already headed home. Fernando Alonso posted the fastest time of the day, a 1.15.433, just ahead of the Ferrari pair of Luca Badoer and Michael Schumacher. Badoer, who completed 86 laps, set a 1.16.046, while Michael Schumacher ran 99 laps, in only his second day of driving this year, on his way to posting a 1.16.182.

Meanwhile, Ferrari have confirmed that their new car, due to be launched next week, will be called the F2004, scotching rumours that it would be known as the 655. These rumours started after Jean Todt referred to the new car as the 655 during a press conference at the International Press Ski meeting at Madonna di Campiglio last week. Todt also hinted that the front wing of the 2004 car would 'surprise' people.

It is also being speculated that Ferrari tester Luca Badoer could drive a third Sauber in Friday testing this year. Peter Sauber has recently stated that the Swiss team, who use Ferrari engines and have caused controversy this week over the visual similarity between their new C23 and last year's Ferrari F2003-GA, do not have the budget to run a third car in Friday testing. Placing Luca Badoer with the team could provide Ferrari a valuable opportunity to enhance their Bridgestone tyre development program.