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First ful test of 2008

A wet track and the promise of changeable weather greeted the teams that ventured to Jerez for the first group test of the year this morning.

Of the new cars, Ferrari and McLaren have already run many miles in the F2008 and MP4-23 respectively, and will continue to refine the new chassis this week.

Ferrari are scheduled to run with Kimi Raikkone and Felipe Massa on all days, while McLaren will mix drivers across the week with test drivers Pedro de la Rosa and Gary Paffet running the opening day, Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen the remaining days.

At Renault, Fernando Alonso will make his return to the team tomorrow, with Nelson Piquet taking on the running today. It is not confirmed whether the team will run the 2008 car this week.

Toyota shook down the TF108 yesterday, in the hands of Jarno Trulli, and will run both Trulli and newcomer Timo Glock today with an unconfirmed schedule for the remaining days.

Williams - running with the FW29 after opting to delay the debut of the new car - will field both Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima today and tomorrow, with new test driver Nico Hulkenberg pencilled in for a run on day three.

Red Bull have David Coulthard running today and Mark Webber tomorrow. We understand the first two days will be undertaken with the RB3, with the new RB4 to make it's debut on Wednesday when both drivers will have time in the car.

Of the remainder, Toro Rosso will field both Sebastien Bourdais and Senastian Vettel on all days, Super Aguri - yet to confirm drivers for 2008 - will run with Anthony Davidson and James Rossiter, and Force India will give Tonio Liuzzi, Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil a day each over the next three days.

Honda are not - as yet - due to run at Jerez, while BMW unveil the new F1.08 today in Cologne, and may join the test later in the week.

Written: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:27:03