Wurz Sets the Pace at Jerez - Day One

McLaren's test drivers Alexander Wurz and Pedro de la Rosa kicked off today a four-day test at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in southern Spain.

Both men worked with the revised MP4-19B the Woking-based outfit plan to introduce for next month's French Grand Prix after struggling in the first half of the season with their current car, which might have competed for the last time at Sunday's United States Grand Prix.

Austrian Wurz was the quickest man today, posting a best time of 1:18.822, over 2.5 seconds off the unofficial track record set by Finn Kimi Raikkonen earlier this year. Spaniard de la Rosa finished less than a tenth of a second behind his teammate.

Ricardo Zonta was the only other driver in action at Jerez today, the Brazilian carrying out testing duties for his Toyota team. He was slowest after 77 laps at the wheel of the TF104.

The BAR and Williams teams are scheduled to join the test tomorrow.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Wurz McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:18.822 48 2. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:18.843 38 3. Zonta Toyota (M) 1:20.197 77 All Timing Unofficial

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