Coulthard sets new benchmark in 2001 McLaren

Coulthard took over from where Hakkinen left off by topping the times on the third day of open running at the twisty Spanish track, as McLaren had exclusive use of the track since the beginning of last week. Jordan's Heinz-Harald Frentzen put in an encouraging performance to take the best-of-the-rest slot in third.

Coulthard and Silver Arrows tester Alex Wurz monopolised the top two slots and the Scot put in a blistering lap of 1m13.40s during an impressive 75 laps of running, but Wurz ran the Scot very close with a best time just 0.02secs behind.

"I now know how to drive the McLaren," said Wurz. "So far I haven't driven with the 2001 tyres, so I'm very pleased with today's time. I hope I can try the new tyres soon."

Jordan has been concentrating on the reliability of its new EJ11, showing only flashes of speed, but Frentzen today showed that the Honda-powered machine is capable of setting a competitive time, albeit more than half a second behind the McLarens.

"The car is very responsive and a lot more stable," said Frentzen, "It has a safer front end because it is easier to follow another car close behind. That doesn't necessarily mean more overtaking. It's definitely a step forward, but whether it's enough, we will have to wait until Melbourne."

Jaguar's Luciano Burti firmly out-paced his team mate Eddie Irvine by taking fourth place while the Ulsterman languished at the bottom of the time sheets in 10th. However, Irvine only completed half a day's running but still managed to complete two endurance runs of 31 and 26 laps before lunch.

Jarno Trulli in the second Jordan-Honda finished the day sixth fastest, behind Arrows new boy Enrique Bernoldi who completed 93 laps in a 2000-spec A21.

The Sauber team returned to Valencia today and Kimi Raikkonen set the seventh best time of the day but the young Finn was forced to take an early bath after putting his C20 into the tyre wall and breaking the car's front suspension.

"The afternoon session went well until, on the last lap, I spun the car and went into the tyre wall," said Raikkonen. "The damage was not significant and we can keep to our schedule."

Team mate Nick Heidfeld's car did not arrive from the team's Hinwil base until this morning and the German managed to put 31 laps on the fourth 2001 chassis to be completed by the Swiss outfit.


David Coulthard, McLaren-Mercedes B 1m13.40s, 75
Alexander Wurz, McLaren-Mercedes B (2000) 1m13.42s, 30
Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Jordan-Honda B 1m14.16s, 63
Luciano Burti, Jaguar-Cosworth M 1m14.42s, 40
Enrique Bernoldi, Arrows-AMT B (2000) 1m14.47s, 93
Jarno Trulli, Jordan-Honda B 1m14.77s, 58
Kimi Raikkonen, Sauber-Petronas B 1m15.64s, 39
Jos Verstappen, Arrows-AMT B 1m15.76s, 20
Nick Heidfeld, Sauber-Petronas B 1m15.83s, 31
Eddie Irvine, Jaguar-Cosworth M 1m15.94s, 57
M - Michelin
B - Bridgestone
NB: all cars 2001 specification unless specified