Testing Kicks Off at Barcelona - Morning Session

Four Formula One teams began on Monday their preparations for the 2002 season, as the first testing session of the year was kicked off at the Barcelona circuit in Spain, where up to nine Grand Prix teams are expected to test until the end of the month.

McLaren, Williams, British American Racing and Jaguar were present at the Catalan circuit as the Formula One cars hit the track again for the first time since the end of the 2001 season last October. BAR test driver Anthony Davidson, driving the Honda-powered 003, was the first man to run a car this year, completing the first laps of the day with the 2001-spec machine.

Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia was the fastest driver in the morning session, the Williams tester being one of the three men at the wheel of last year's FW23s, with German Ralf Schumacher and Spaniard Marc Gene also working for the Grove-based outfit, who were the only one present with three cars on track. Gene, who set the fifth quickest time, was the busiest man this morning, completing 23 laps.

McLaren's David Coulthard was second quickest for the Mercedes-powered team, who run for the first time with Michelin tyres since switching to the French manufacturer last year. Test driver Alexander Wurz was also present at the circuit, the Austrian setting the fourth quickest time.

Frenchman Olivier Panis was the only driver at the wheel of a 2002-spec car, as he completed the first laps for the new Honda-powered BAR 004. The Brackley-based outfit were the only Bridgestone-shod team at the circuit today. Jaguar's Eddie Irvine and Pedro de la Rosa were seventh and eighth quickest and they are expected to drive the new R3 on Tuesday.

Morning times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time 1. Pizzonia Williams-BMW (M) 1:20.504 2. Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:21.313 3. R.Schumacher Williams-BMW (M) 1:21.644 4. Wurz McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:21.836 5. Gene Williams-BMW (M) 1:22.246 6. Panis BAR-Honda (B) 1:22.806 7. Irvine Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:22.884 8. De la Rosa Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:24.899 9. Davidson BAR-Honda (B) 1:45.747 All Timing Unofficial