Jerez 2: De la Rosa quickest

Both drivers were happy with their work over the two days and will now hand over duties to race drivers Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard on the final day of testing on Thursday.

"It's been a very good two days," said Wurz. "The biggest difference is that I can actually sit down properly in the B-spec, which I couldn't do in the A. We have more or less finished the programme. It's been a very good two days."

"I am surprised at how well the test went, it's a good step forward which is very good for the team," de la Rosa added. "The great thing is that it is consistent and looks very reliable. Obviously there is a lot more work to be done, but it looks promising at the moment."

Sandwiched between the two McLaren's was Williams test driver Marc Gene who carried out a tyre programme in the FW26 as well as some pitstop in what was seen as evidence that the Spaniard will be the driver to replace Ralf Schumacher at the French GP (Click HERE for separate story). Team-mate Antonio Pizzonia carried out a 2005 programme for the team setting the seventh quickest time of the day.

Fresh from his first-ever F1 podium at the United States GP, Takuma Sato joined the action setting the fourth quickest time despite being hampered by technical problems in the morning session. Team-mate Anthony Davidson was also sidelined for much of the morning session with telemetry problems and when he finally got out on track his car came to a halt. The Briton ended his day sixth quickest behind Toyota's Ricardo Zonta.

Toyota's Cristiano da Matta also hit the track, but it was for an installation lap only as he prepares to take over from Zonta on Thursday.

Pedro de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes* M 1m17.107s 110
Marc Gene Williams-BMW M 1m18.053s 91
Alexander Wurz McLaren-Mercedes* M 1m18.171s 105
Takuma Sato BAR-Honda M 1m18.605s 54
Ricardo Zonta Toyota M 1m18.784s 54
Anthony Davidson BAR-Honda M 1m18.835s 30
Antonio Pizzonia Williams-BMW M 1m19.896s 67
Cristiano da Matta Toyota M no time

*Denotes MP4-19B