Kovalainen goes fastest at Ricard

Although the session started with a damp track following yesterday's rain, the sun eventually shone through, allowing the circuit to dry up. Today, the teams used the 3E SC configuration of the French circuit, with a length of 3.8 kms.

Kovalainen, who joined the test today, posted a quickest lap of 1:04.446 to finish ahead of McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa, the only man testing yesterday.

The Spanish driver, who on Tuesday began working with the new specification engine to be used in Australia, enjoyed an encouraging day and completed two Grand Prix distances with the same engine used yesterday.

He finished around four tenths behind Kovalainen.

McLaren worked also with Briton Gary Paffett, who took to the track in the old car fitted with a limited V10 engine. Paffett was fourth fastest.

BMW's third driver Robert Kubica kicked off his team's programme for the week, the Pole focusing on tyre testing for both the Australian and San Marino Grands Prix. He covered 144 laps.

The Toyota team, trying to get on top of their problems getting heat into their tyres, did not enjoy a good day, with Ralf Schumacher causing the only two red flags of the session when his car stopped on track.

The German covered just 40 laps and finished at the bottom of the times. Teammate Ricardo Zonta was better off with 79 rounds, but he was also off the pace of the leaders.

Today's times:

Pos  Driver        Team                Tyres Time      Laps
 1.  Kovalainen    Renault              (M)  1:04.446  161
 2.  de la Rosa    McLaren-Mercedes     (M)  1:04.866  169
 3.  Kubica        BMW Sauber           (M)  1:04.977  144
 4.  Paffett       McLaren-Mercedes     (M)  1:05.874   71 
 5.  Zonta         Toyota               (B)  1:06.331   79 
 6.  R.Schumacher  Toyota               (B)  1:07.060   40 

All Timing Unofficial