Alesi Smashes Barcelona Record - Day Ten

Veteran Frenchman Jean Alesi smashed the unofficial Barcelona circuit record on the tenth consecutive day of testing at the Circuit de Catalunya, completing a fastest lap of 1:18.973 at the wheel of the new Prost.

"I'm really happy with the time I set today," Alesi said. "I hope we can be this good when we come here for the Grand Prix in April."

"For the first time we can see the potential of the new car and it is very encouraging for the team. The time shows we are on the right direction and that we might score some points right from the first races of the season.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us, but this is a very important first step."

Driving the new Ferrari-powered AP04, Alesi, who completed a total of 95 laps, lowered the unofficial fastest lap set by Jarno Trulli with the Jordan back in December by nearly six tenths, being almost a second quicker than Giancarlo Fisichella in the Benetton.

Fisichella was again second quickest with the B200 chassis after driving an amazing 113 laps around the Catalonian track.

Juan Pablo Montoya, fastest on Monday, continued working on the hybrid Williams FW22 powered by the 2001 BMW engine, the Colombian setting the third quickest lap of the session in front of Briton Jenson Button, who was once again much slower than teammate Fisichella.

The Arrows team's work was carried out by Dutch driver Jos Verstappen, who replaced Enrique Berlondi at the wheel of the interim AMT-powered A21, setting the fifth fastest time of the day. Verstappen was the only Bridgestone user today.

Ulsterman Eddie Irvine was sixth driving the new Jaguar R2, succesfully completing some tyre compound testing.

German Ralf Schumacher drove the new Williams FW23 and completed 43 laps, setting the seventh quickest time. Schumacher caused the session to be red-flagged due to a mechanical failure that forced him to stop his car at the track.

The Jaguar duo formed by Luciano Burti and test driver Tomas Scheckter, set the two slowest times of the session, the South African driving the R1s chassis.

Testing at Barcelona will resume tomorrow.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time 1. Alesi Prost-Ferrari (M) 1:18.973 2. Fisichella Benetton-Renault (M) 1:19.859 3. Montoya Williams-BMW (M) 1:20.418 4. Button Benetton-Renault (M) 1:20.899 5. Verstappen Arrows-AMT (B) 1:21.246 6. Irvine Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:21.463 7. R.Schumacher Williams-BMW (M) 1:21.523 8. Burti Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:22.727 9. Scheckter Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:24.842 All Timing Unofficial