Barcelona test, day 2: Coloni on song

The surprise of the day was Enrico Toccacelo, the Italian setting an incredible time to go quickest in a Coloni Motorsport Lola. Toccacelo made little impression in four appearances for Team Astromega at the end of this season, yet raised eyebrows down the pitlane by setting a time seven tenths clear of the next best driver at Barcelona.

That man was Gianmaria Bruni, who continued his impressive form with Arden Team Russia. The morning session was quicker than the afternoon, and when it counted, Bruni was able to outpace pre-season title favourites Antonio Pizzonia and Giorgio Pantano.

Pizzonia was driving for Petrobras Junior, with whom he is almost certain to stay with for a second season in 2002. Meanwhile Pantano had his first test with Super Nova, taking over from Sebastien Bourdais who drove on Tuesday. Pantano is one of the candidates to drive for the crack team next year.

Twin brothers Ricardo and Rodrigo Sperafico completed the top six with Petrobras and Astromega respectively.

Briton Justin Keen had his first test with Arden Team Russia and made a good impression on team boss Christian Horner, despite only managing a time good enough for 15th out of the 16 drivers who ran. "Justin saved his new tyres for the afternoon when unfortunately, the track was slower," said Horner. "He did a solid job because it was difficult having been out of a racing car for nine months."


Enrico Toccacelo, Coloni, 1m30.624s
Gianmaria Bruni, Arden, 1m31.370s
Antonio Pizzonia, Petrobras, 1m31.403s
Giorgio Pantano, Super Nova, 1m31.529s
Ricardo Sperafico, Petrobras, 1m31.849s
Rodrigo Sperafico, Astromega, 1m31.900s
Jaime Melo, Durango, 1m32.158s
'Babalus', Coloni, 1m32.282s
Joel Camathias, Nordic, 1m32.446s
Yannick Schroeder, Coloni, 1m32.666s
Zsolt Baumgartner, Nordic, 1m32.746s
Nicolas Kiesa, Astromega, 1m33.558s
Alex Muller, Astromega, 1m33.658s
Tom Niemarnik, Durango, 1m33.803s
Justin Keen, Arden, 1m33.971s
Alex Sperafico, Super Nova, 1m43.625s