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McLaren tester Pedro de la Rosa remained the quickest driver in action at Jerez on Thursday, as this week’s three-day test session drew to a close. De la Rosa’s best lap around the Spanish circuit, completed in 1m 19.617s, was less than a tenth of a second faster than Ferrari’s Luca Badoer.
The Spaniard completed McLaren's aero and set-up work ahead of three remaining races, covering 68 laps to bring his tally for his three days in the car to 184. Test driver Badoer, meanwhile, continued in the F2007 as he worked through an electronics programme.
Third fastest was Mark Webber in the Red Bull, who was tasked with evaluating aero modifications made to the RB3. Webber only managed 42 laps after a mechanical problem in the afternoon limited his running. Just over a tenth down on the Australian was Nick Heidfeld for BMW Sauber. Heidfeld covered 94 laps as he carried out set-up work in the F1.07.
Tester Nelson Piquet Jr took up the fifth slot for Renault. Alongside the necessary preparation for the final three races, Piquet continued software-work for 2008. By far the most productive driver of the day, the Brazilian completed a mammoth 120 laps.
Sixth quickest was Honda race driver Jenson Button. After covering 48 laps running aero comparisons, Button handed the RA107 to tester James Rossiter in the afternoon. Rossiter, who eventually finished ninth in the times, wrapped up the team’s aero programme and carried out some suspension and set-up work.
Jarno Trulli was in action for Toyota and finished the day seventh. Focusing on the TF107’s aero and mechanical set-up, Trulli completed 77 laps. The Italian finished just four thousandths of a second ahead of Toro Rosso’s Sebastian Vettel, who enjoyed a much more productive day after his troubles on Wednesday as he prepared his STR2 for the last three Grands Prix of the season.
Nico Rosberg took up the tenth spot for Williams. Rosberg completed 87 laps as he continued to concentrate on systems checks in the FW29. In the afternoon, the German was also charged with kick-starting the British squad’s development work for 2008.
With the final test of the season over, the teams now head back to their factories to finalise preparations before making the long trip to Japan, ahead of next weekend’s race at Fuji Speedway.
Unofficial Thursday times from Jerez:
1. Pedro de la Rosa, McLaren, 1:19.617
2. Luca Badoer, Ferrari, 1:19.665
3. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:20.067
4. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 1:20.184
5. Nelson Piquet Jr, Renault, 1:20.655
6. Jenson Button, Honda, 1:20.831
7. Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 1:21.521
8. Sebastian Vettel, Toro Rosso, 1:21.525
9. James Rossiter, Honda, 1:21.653
10. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 1:22.148
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