10.12.2003 THE FORMULA ONE TEAMS ARE AT JEREZ FOR THE LAST MAJOR TEST OF THE YEAR

Monday saw Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro back on track at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit, the first day of a major F1 test which has seen all the teams except Jordan and Minardi at the Spanish track.

Luca Badoer was the only Ferrari driver to take to the track in a day the was unfortunately  affected by adverse weather conditions, with occasional rain arriving from the end of the morning onwards. Badoer was therefore only able to do 12 laps, the quickest being a 1’26”300. Takumo Sato and Anthony Davidson for BAR, and Felipe Massa in a Sauber, were the only other cars to take to the track.

Tuesday saw Ferrari, BAR and Sauber joined by Williams, Renault, McLaren, Jaguar and Toyota at the rain soaked circuit. Once again, the heavy rain which fell on the track, made it almost impossible for Ferrari to get through the planned technical programme, which centred on tyres. Rubens Barrichello, joining the winter test program, completed only 11 laps, with a quickest time of 1’26”082 to put him third overall behind Anthony Davidson and Felipe Massa, while Luca Badoer did not even run.

Today it finally proved possible to run with dry weather tyres, as from late morning. The Scuderia’s technical programme for the day centred on tyre and engine testing. Barrichello covered 59 laps, the quickest in 1.19.000, while Badoer did 76 laps with a best time of 1.18.501. Again the BAR's were quickest. Barrichello and Badoer continue testing tomorrow, the final day of the session.

Meanwhile, in a parallel test program, Luciano Burti has been out at Ferrari's private Fiorano circuit. Today. At the wheel of an F2002, he began a tyre development programme yesterday aimed at next season. Burti covered a total of 12 laps, with a best time of 1.02.175. After a break today to analyse results he will be back out again a Fiorano tomorrow.