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Barcelona day 2: Coulthard flies

David Coulthard has started his 2003 season on a flier, breaking the Circuit de Catalunya lap record during testing today (Tuesday) at the Spanish circuit

The Scot was testing for the first time this season, and his lap of 1m15.226s eclipsed the previous track record of 1m15.674s, which was set by Coulthard himself in a test last December.

The test also saw two 2003 cars go head-to-head for the first time, with Nick Heidfeld driving the Sauber C22 and Olivier Panis running the Toyota TF103. Sauber emerged triumphant, with the C22, fitted with a Monza 2002-spec Ferrari engine, setting the third best time. "We are getting happier with the set-up," said the German.

After an inconclusive test last week, Panis was happy with the TF103, despite the car being briefly stopped by as fuel leak. "There was a little problem, but the car is very, very good," he said.

Cristiano da Matta and Heinz-Harald Frentzen also ran for Toyota and Sauber respectively, but both ran in 2002 cars. Williams was also in action, Olivier Beretta joining the team in place of Ralf Schumacher, who sustained a neck injury yesterday.

David Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes M 1m15.226s 61
Marc Gene Williams-BMW M 1m16.568s 69
Nick Heidfeld Sauber-Petronas* B 1m16.688s 81
Juan Pablo Montoya Williams-BMW M 1m16.828s 39
Olivier Panis Toyota* B 1m17.066s 34
Alex Wurz McLaren-Mercedes M 1m17.307s 48
Heinz-Harald Frentzen Sauber-Petronas B 1m17.909s 68
Cristiano da Matta Toyota B 1m19.092s 38
Olivier Beretta Williams-BMW M 1m19.160s

Key
B=Bridgestone
M=Michelin
*=2003 car

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