Jerez day 1: Kimi top in MP4-18A

McLaren encountered mixed fortunes on the opening day of testing at Jerez in spain today (Tuesday). Kimi Raikkonen was fastest for the team, substantially outpacing the opposition in the new MP4-18A, but Alex Wurz destroyed a second example of the new machine in a huge crash (see separate story)

Jun 17, 2003, 8:13 PM

Raikkonen lapped the Jerez track in a best-time of 1m19.718s, 0.879s faster than Williams test driver Marc Gene could achieve. The speed of the Finn will have come as a boost to the team, who are now likely to delay the new car's introduction until the British Grand Prix.

Cristiano da Matta was third fastest for Toyota, who was working on general set-up work and Michelin tyre evaluation. Pedro de la Rosa was fourth fastest driving an MP4-17D, with Alex Wurz at the bottom of the timesheets, having completed just 14 laps before his crash.

Kimi Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes M 1m19.718s 63
Marc Gene Williams-BMW M 1m20.597s 69
Cristiano da Matta Toyota M 1m20.896s 52
Pedro de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes M 1m20.957s 68*
Alex Wurz McLaren-Mercedes M 1m21.928s 14

* denotes MP4-17D
M = Michelin