Barcelona test, day 1: Reliability problems for DC

On day one of the three-day test, Coulthard was first out on the track, but after completing only four laps the Scot had brought the red flags out by 0910 local time (0810 BST) after coming to a halt out on the circuit.

Under the watchful eye of McLaren's technical director Adrian Newey, the stricken MP4-16 was taken back to the pits and despite the efforts of the Woking mechanics to solve a suspected gearbox problem, the car did not make it back onto the track.

Wurz continued to carry out tyre development work in a 2000-spec McLaren fitted with this year's drive train and set a fastest time of 1m21.01s. The Austrian completed 78 laps and he too brought out the red flags after coming to a halt just before lunch.

Juan Pablo Montoya was behind the wheel of the sole Williams-BMW and set a best time almost 1.5s behind Wurz. The Colombian was driving the FW22 that will be used as the team's spare car in Australia.

"I'm very happy with the progress made on all areas of the car," said Montoya, "the engine, the chassis and the tyres. There's a little here and a little there. You may not think that they are that important, but they add up to make up a big difference.

"The new car is definitely better than the old one. We've had so many things to do, I just haven't had a chance to think. I'm not worried about the first race at all. I'm actually really looking forward to Australia."

Montoya concludes the running for the Grove-based team tomorrow, while McLaren are to continue until Thursday when Mika Hakkinen will take over from Coulthard.


Alex Wurz, McLaren-Mercedes, B (2000) 1m21.01s, 78 laps
Juan Pablo Montoya, Williams-BMW, M 1m22.46s, 67 laps
David Coulthard, McLaren-Mercedes, B 1m45.36s, 4laps