Warwick tops disrupted practice

However, only six cars went out on track because of a batch of engine problems.

Warwick needed just three laps of the British track to set the fastest lap this morning, a 1:38.741.

But the GP Masters technical team are still busy working on several engines after a problem was diagnosed with the 600bhp power units.

GP Masters spokesperson Nav Sidhu told autosport.com: "Yesterday, we suffered from technical issues on five engines. The problem was identified and diagnosed overnight and corrective measures were put in place.

"The process is still ongoing to the extent that we are still rebuilding engines in batches of four.

"The lads have been working for nearly 24 hours and the British bulldog sprit will come through to the extent that all 15 cars will be race specification ready for the weekend ahead."

Eddie Cheever, running in Damon Hill's test car from yesterday because the American's car was being worked on, was second quickest, just over half a second behind Warwick.

Only two thousands of a second slower was Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi. Home hero Nigel Mansell was fourth fastest, ahead of Hans Stuck and Rene Arnoux.

Practice times:

Pos  Driver                  Time
 1.  Derek Warwick       1:38.741
 2.  Eddie Cheever       1:39.312
 3.  Emerson Fittipaldi  1:39.314
 4.  Nigel Mansell       1:40.577
 5.  Hans Stuck          1:41.418
 6.  Rene Arnoux         1:47.169