Zonta Fastest in the Wet at Silverstone

Brazilian Ricardo Zonta was fastest on a wet second day of testing on Thursday at the Silverstone circuit, as the Jordan team joined the session at the British track.

Jordan's test driver completed 55 laps at the wheel of the Honda-powered EJ11, setting a fastest lap of 1:36.492.

Benetton's Mark Webber was again second fastest today, as his team concentrated on software and tyre development and brake work for the entire day, completing 54 laps with a best time almost three tenths slower than Zonta.

Marc Gene was third quickest for the BMW-Williams team, nearly a second off the best time. However, the Spaniard was pleased with the day's work after only 26 laps.

"We had a very productive test today because we could complete the scheduled programme in spite of the poor weather," said Gene. "Even if we had hoped that we could manage to have some laps in the dry, we still got the job done as we had lots of items to test in the wet."

Spanish driver Pedro de la Rosa continued his acclimatisation with the Jaguar team, working on different setups as he drove the R2 to fourth place today. De la Rosa outpaced the team's second test driver Tomas Scheckter, who was at the wheel of the 2000-spec R1 and set the fifth fastest time.

Briton Johnny Herbert, who was quickest on Wednesday driving the Arrows A21, set the slowest time today after only completing 19 laps. The veteran driver was plagued by mechanical problems and could not take to the track until the afternoon.

Testing will resume on Friday.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time 1. Zonta Jordan-Honda (B) 1:36.492 2. Webber Benetton-Renault (M) 1:36.781 3. Gene Williams-BMW (M) 1:37.475 4. De la Rosa Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:37.565 5. Scheckter Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:38.225 6. Herbert Arrows-Asiatech (B) 1:38.562 All Timing Unofficial