Frentzen on Top as Bourdais Debuts - Day Three

Heinz-Harald Frentzen gave his debt-ridden Arrows team a small boost of confidence on Thursday by setting the quickest time on the third day of testing at the Valencia circuit.

The veteran German driver continued with the development of the Cosworth-powered A23 in the morning, finishing nearly three tenths of a second ahead of Italian Giancarlo Fisichella in the only Jordan at the Ricardo Tormo circuit today.

Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who is testing components for the 2003 Renault, posted the third fastest time, outpacing Brazilian Felipe Massa, who was fourth. The French squad were pleased with their progress.

"Overall, a very successful day for us," said Renault's technnical director Mike Gascoyne. "The performance testing this morning allowed us to complete our work from yesterday, whilst the afternoon was a normal tyre test."

Sauber driver Massa today replaced teammate Nick Heidfeld, concentrating on aerodynamic tests, brake development, and also carrying out a tyre programme for Bridgestone.

"I am happy to have done so much running today," said Massa. "It feels as if we have tried every conceivable configuration on the car. Certainly the work we have done at this test has enabled to improve it for the French Grand Prix. I am looking forward to the race in Magny-Cours next week."

Williams test driver Marc Gene, who on Wednesday topped the timesheets, was only fifth fastest today, but the Spaniard completed the most number of laps at the wheel of the BMW-powered FW24 with 106.

Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais made his Formula One debut in the afternoon, taking over from Frentzen behind the wheel of the Arrows A23. The F3000 championship leader worked on familiarising with the Grand Prix car, completing 25 laps to finish more than three seconds off Frentzen's pace.

Testing at Valencia will conclude on Friday.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Frentzen Arrows-Cosworth (B) 1:12.505 41 2. Fisichella Jordan-Honda (B) 1:12.795 92 3. Alonso Renault (M) 1:13.260 75 4. Massa Sauber-Petronas (B) 1:13.715 104 5. Gene Williams-BMW (M) 1:14.065 106 6. Bourdais Arrows-Cosworth (B) 1:15.719 25 All Timing Unofficial

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