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Ex-Honda continues to shine

Brawn GP completed a stunning test at Barcelona today as Rubens Barrichello took the wheel and turned in a fastest lap of 1:18.926, the quickest of the week and the only one under the 79 second mark. The BGP001 had another productive day, getting 110 laps under its belts with seemingly little in the way of problems.

Again, however, rumours of ‘sponsor-grabbing’ tactics abound, but either way this pace is stupendous for a car that was very nearly a non-runner this season.

Second fastest, and eight tenths down, came Nico Rosberg, the young German finally able to unleash the form of the Williams FW31 and put in a promising 120 laps over the course of the day, while Toyota brought their winter testing programme – one that has seen them turn heads as they have been continually competitive – with Timo Glock in third at just a shade over 1:20.

Sebastian Vettel continued the hard work going on at Red Bull with the RB5 to set the next best time – albeit four tenths behind Glock – and Fernando Alonso put more miles on the Renault R29 to finish fifth.

Trailing Alonso were the three teams considered by many to be this years championship favourites, with Ferrari and Felipe Massa heading Robert Kubica in the BMW F1.09 by less than a tenth, and Lewis Hamilton just a tenth behind in the Mclaren MP4-24. This has been the most promising day yet for Mclaren, who have hitherto languished at the foot of the timesheets most of the winter.

Sebastiens Buemi and Bourdais both had time in the STR, and sandwiched Giancarlo Fisichella who worked hard in the Force India to get 141 laps under his belt.

That’s it for the likes of Ferrari, Toyota and BMW, although some teams – Mclaren included – will be testing at Jerez next week.

Written: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:30:58