Ralf on Top at Jerez with FW26 - Day Four

The new Williams-BMW FW26 continued to impress in its first test at the Jerez circuit, with German Ralf Schumacher setting the quickest time on the fourth day of work at the Spanish track.

Schumacher took over from teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, and after only a few laps with the new car the German went around four tenths of a second faster than what the Colombian had managed in the previous three days.

Schumacher's time of 1:16.359 was only around a tenth of a second off the track's record.

McLaren's David Coulthard was second fastest in the first of the MP4-19 cars in action, the Scot finishing more than seven tenths behind Schumacher. Finn Kimi Raikkonen, who returned to work yesterday following the end of last season, was fourth quickest in the second McLaren, finishing ahead of Marc Gene in the Williams FW25.

The BAR-Honda team were still in action with Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson, both working at the wheel of the hybrid 005 chassis. Sato enjoyed a good session and set the third fastest time after 104 laps. Davidson, who yesterday lost his engine after seven laps, suffered the same problem again, this time his car stopping after he had covered two laps.

Italian Luca Badoer and Brazilian Felipe Massa took to the track once more to conclude Ferrari's tyre and electronics test programme. Massa was the fastest of the Ferrari duo as they continued working with the F2003-GA before the new car is unveiled on January 26th.

Testing resumes tomorrow.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. R.Schumacher Williams-BMW (M) 1:16.359 82 2. Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:17.074 104 3. Sato BAR-Honda (M) 1:17.945 103 4. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:18.054 87 5. Gene Williams-BMW (M) 1:18.175 93 6. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:18.681 62 7. Davidson BAR-Honda (M) 1:18.830 95 8. Badoer Ferrari (B) 1:18.841 79 All Timing Unofficial

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