Valencia 3: DC's record

The Scot wasn't exactly jumping for joy after his stint, though - well aware of how deceptive winter test times have often proved in the past.

"Is it quick enough to win a grand prix?" he asked. "That's the question and we just won't know until we get to Melbourne and see what everyone else can do."

He wasn't too down though. "The good thing is," he continued, "we're out here now and have more time to develop the car."

Juan Pablo Montoya, who like team-mate Ralf Schumacher was working through a chassis set-up programme for new tyres and suspension geometry finished up second fastest, with a lap of 1m10.218s, compared to Coulthard's 1m10.021s (Montoya had run a 1m10.081s lap on Tuesday).

Jarno Trulli put in plenty of work, completing 109 laps on his way to a third best time of 1m10.419s. Ralf Schumacher was fifth best on 1m10.601s.

Right at the end of the day, Justin Wilson set a lightning 1m10.504s on low fuel settings in his Jaguar, this despite completing a monster 130 laps on the day, which was quick enough for the fourth fastest time overall.

Marc Gene completed his third day of work on the new 2004-spec BMW engine - which will have to last a full grand prix weekend. The Spaniard did a long run today and was very pleased with the new unit. "It's just as good as this year's," he said. "I can't feel any difference, and we didn't have any problems today." He was fifth quickest.

Ryan Briscoe has been suffering with a fever all week, but he still completed 107 laps, and again reduced his lap time by around half a second over his Wednesday pace. Mark Webber was the slowest of the 10 runners on the day, the Australian lapping in 1m12.133s.

Jaguar moves on after today's sessions, but the other four teams will leave one car each for tomorrow's wet-track tests. Alex Wurz, Franck Montagny, Gene and Briscoe will do the driving.

David Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes* M 1m10.021s 51
Juan Pablo Montoya Williams-BMW M 1m10.218s 57
Jarno Trulli Renault M 1m10.419s 109
Justin Wilson Jaguar M 1m10.504s 130
Ralf Schumacher Williams-BMW M 1m10.601s 70
Marc Gene Williams-BMW M 1m11.013s 88
Franck Montagny Renault M 1m11.035s 115
Alexander Wurz McLaren-Mercedes M 1m11.252s 95
Ryan Briscoe Toyota M 1m11.562s 107
Mark Webber Jaguar M 1m12.133s 79
* = 2004 car