Montagny Finishes Jerez Test on Top

Renault's test driver Franck Montagny posted the quickest time of this week's test on the final day of work at the Jerez circuit.

Montagny set a best time of 1:16.297 after 93 laps at the wheel of the R24. The Frenchman worked alongside Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who joined the test to replace Canadian Jacques Villeneuve. Alonso, working on tyre testing for the 2005 season, was fifth fastest.

Williams' Antonio Pizzonia, quickest on the first two days, completed the British team's work at the Spanish circuit and finished second behind Montagny.

Australian test driver Ryan Briscoe joined Brazilian teammate Ricardo Zonta as the Toyota team completed their final test of the season. Zonta, who did more work on tyres along with some electronics and set-up, finished as third quickest despite an engine failure.

Briscoe, meanwhile, was seventh.

"I spent Thursday morning working on brake ducts and wing effects," said Briscoe. "It went pretty well and we made it through the programme quite nicely, although we had an engine problem just before lunch so we had to stop to get it fixed.

"In the afternoon I did some work on new tyre constructions for 2005, which was interesting. On Monday I will head off to Sao Paulo to carry out my third driver role at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Then I have a few weeks off before I return to testing at the end of November."

McLaren's test drivers Alexander Wurz and Pedro de la Rosa were again in action for the Woking team, the Austrian being the busiest man on track with 114 laps.

Brazilian Enrique Bernoldi was replaced by Briton Anthony Davidson, who wrapped up BAR's three-day test. Davidson, who during the morning ended up in the gravel after he went off the track at the end of the straight, covered a total of 102 laps on his way to the eighth quickest time.

Jaguar's Bjorn Wirdheim was slowest with the Cosworth-powered car.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Montagny Renault (M) 1:16.297 93 2. Pizzonia Williams-BMW (M) 1:16.575 80 3. Zonta Toyota (M) 1:17.030 83 4. Wurz McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:17.489 114 5. Alonso Renault (M) 1:17.532 75 6. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:17.537 98 7. Briscoe Toyota (M) 1:18.051 58 8. Davidson BAR-Honda (M) 1:18.835 102 9. Wirdheim Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:19.332 94 All Timing Unofficial

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