Sato Quickest in Wet Test at Jerez - Final Day

Five Formula One teams concluded today their final test of 2003, wrapping up a five-day session at the Jerez circuit in Spain.

The five Michelin-shod teams in action at the Spanish track today worked on an artificially watered circuit in order to evaluate the French manufacturer's tyres. That despite having tested in the wet on Monday and Tuesday.

BAR-Honda driver Takuma Sato was the fastest of the five drivers in action at Jerez, posting a best time of 1:27.253 after a massive 117 laps with the 2003-spec 005 chassis.

The Japanese driver finished over half a second ahead of McLaren's test driver Pedro de la Rosa, who on Thursday shattered the track record of the Spanish circuit. De la Rosa, at the wheel of the new MP4-19 car, covered 89 laps.

Jaguar's Christian Klien concluded the Ford-owned squad's test with the third fastest time of the day, with Spaniard Marc Gene and Brazilian Ricardo Zonta behind the Austrian in the only Williams and the only Toyota on track.

"Ironically after a week of quite wet conditions, our programme for today revolved purely around an extensive wet weather Michelin tyre test on an artificially-wet track," said Zonta at the end of the day. "It was a very promising day and with good reliability, we were able to achieve over one hundred laps.

"This was the final day of testing in 2003, so we are all going to enjoy a little break over Christmas and New Year before the TF104 car is launched in the middle of January and 2004 preparation really get underway."

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Sato BAR-Honda (M) 1:27.253 117 2. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:28.002 89 3. Klien Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:29.134 116 4. Gene Williams-BMW (M) 1:29.341 100 5. Zonta Toyota (M) 1:30.504 101 All Timing Unofficial

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