Walker tops WSR test session again

The P1 Motorsport driver's 1m22.023s edged out Spaniard Miguel Molina by a tenth of a second. Molina's compatriot Adrian Valles was third fastest for Epsilon Euskadi.

"We used just one set of tyres," said Walker, "so it is pleasing to see others chucking new rubber on and being unable to match the time. I think that a 1m21.8s was achievable, as I was held up a little on my best lap.

"We will be working on our race set-up in the afternoon, although I am not too sure how much running we are likely to do. The long radius corners here and Mickey Mouse stuff does have relevance to a few corners at Barcelona [location of the next test], so we will work on that."

Walker, who remains the only confirmed driver with 2008 champion P1 Motorsport, recorded his time within an hour of the session starting. With just three sets of new tyres per two-day test provided as part of cost saving measures introduced for this season, there were few changes in the classification as the three and a half hour test drew to a close.

Bertrand Baguette slipped to an eventual fourth with Draco, having briefly held the fastest time overall. The Belgian, now decked out in Force India style overalls thanks to his team's association with Vijay Mallya's Formula 1 squad, said Draco was broadening its understanding of the revised 2009 aero kit.

"I find that the car is quite different to last year," said Baguette. "We're trying to get the correct balance in high speed corners, like Turn 1, which will be useful to the race in Barcelona. This circuit is a bit special, though, being anti-clockwise. I managed four laps at 1m22.2s, trying out some different lines into corners, so I hope now that we have a finger towards the right set-up."

Brake trouble restricted his Draco team-mate Marco Barba from improving on his eighth position.

Britons Oliver Turvey and Greg Mansell briefly topped the timesheets as the session got under way. British Formula 3 runner-up Turvey set the initial running with a 1m22.972s, before Greg Mansell fitted new tyres at the half hour mark to move ahead. Turvey concluded the session in seventh position, two spots higher than Mansell.

"Second fastest overall yesterday was good," said Turvey, "but I have just had traffic on my new tyres. They are quite peaky compared to what I have been used to in British F3."

Tech 1 Racing's Frankie Provenzano did not take to the track. The Italian, who is not confirmed in a race seat with the Toulouse team, had ended Saturday at the bottom of the classification. Tech 1 and Renault Sport engine experts Solution F were examining whether or not an engine problem may have contributed to the disappointing performance.

Morning session times:

Pos  Driver               Team         Time      Laps
 1.  James Walker         P1           1:22.023  22
 2.  Miguel Molina        USR          1:22.170  61
 3.  Adrian Valles        Epsilon      1:22.197  27
 4.  Bertrand Baguette    Draco        1:22.216  31
 5.  Charles Pic          Tech 1       1:22.264  33
 6.  Marcos Martinez      Pons         1:22.305  34
 7.  Oliver Turvey        Carlin       1:22.331  42
 8.  Marco Barba          Draco        1:22.435  21
 9.  Greg Mansell         USR          1:22.514  59
10.  Jaime Alguersuari    Carlin       1:22.522  38
11.  Tobias Hegewald      Interwetten  1:22.701  23
12.  Chris van der Drift  Epsilon      1:22.863  31
13.  Sten Pentus          Fortec       1:22.928  35
14.  Fairuz Fauzy         Fortec       1:23.036  53
15.  Edoardo Piscopo      Prema        1:23.172  38
16.  Federico Leo         Pons         1:23.183  28
17.  Anton Nebilitskiy    Comtec       1:23.303  44
18.  Alexandre Marsoin    Comtec       1:23.453  38
19.  Julian Leal          Prema        1:23.549  68