Valencia day#2

Final times:

1. Kovalainen Mclaren 1:11.000 92
2. Massa Ferrari 1:11.662 81
3. Raikkonen Ferrari 1:11.850 108
4. Hamilton Mclaren 1:12.076 115
5. Nakajima Williams 1:12.255 92
6. Alonso Renault 1:12.360 111
7. Rosberg Williams 1:12.493 117
8. Webber Red Bull 1:12.594 87
9. Heidfeld BMW 1:12.976 51
10. Vettel Toro Rosso 1:13.015 63
11. Glock Toyota 1:13.129 96
12. Kubica BMW 1:13.230 121
13. Bourdais Toro Rosso 1:13.307 118
14. Sutil Force India 1:13.409 98
15. Trulli Toyota 1:13.547 96
16. Barrichello Honda 1:14.874 35
17. Kogure Honda 1:16.761 50


Kovalainen on his superlap: ''I wanted to get to know the feeling of the car with little fuel.''

''Yesterday I was only fourth but it was just as good considering the circumstances.''

- Ferrari wasn't particularly looking to set fast times and both drivers once again two different programmes. Raikkonen was doing the long runs (at the end of the afternoon he did a long run with an runrivalled average time of 1:12) whereas Massa did shorter runs, doing three (relatively slow laps) to then speed up again.

Comparison between the two topteams: over one lap McLaren has a slight advantage, whereas Ferrari beats them over a long distance.

- The first set-up work on the Renault worked out well, Alonso was constantly setting low 1:13's and was able to keep up the pace of Kovalainen who was on track at the same time at some stage. The Spaniard's best time, a 1.12.380 was set on a long run.

-Today Rosberg simulated a race distance. Over the course of the simulation the laptimes kept going down, which goes to indicate the FW30 is kind to the tyres. The last lap of the simulation, a 1.12,729, was the fastest. Michael: ''Not bad for a second testday. We're on the right way in terms of reliability.''

Rosberg: ''When we'll find the right set-up window, then the new car is better in every area compared to the old one.''

- The second testday for Red Bull was more positive than the first. Webber who ended up in the topteam: ''I didn't have to push myself once. The car could become something (good), considering the fact the old front- and rearwing are still mounted on the car.''

The team is still driving with the basic version of the RB4, the covering of the wishbones is the next step but the (new) parts arrived in Valencia one day late. Marko isn't worried though: ''For us it's only important to rack up the mileage. Reliability was our big weakpoint last year. But we can already say now: the new gearbox keeps up.''

- BMW Sauber confirmed yesterday's (bad) form. The team comforts itself saying it knows the problems.

- The Toyota's are running like clockwork but they're one second behind the frontrunners. Glock: ''We're fine reliability wise, now we need to find the pace.''

- Technical chief Nakamoto from Honda: ''There are still many aerodynamical parts missing. We were first willing the car to make laps, to check out all the systems.''

- Gascoyne: ''We're only doing mileage on the 'critical' components (gearbox ?). The first real aerodynamical face lift for Force India will come in February.

Comments by AFCA

Honda’s new challenger made its track debut on Wednesday morning at Valencia. For its maiden outing the RA108 was placed in the experienced hands of race driver Rubens Barrichello.

Honda, who endured a bitterly disappointing 2007 campaign, hope the new car will help them improve their form during the coming season, which will be overseen by new team principal Ross Brawn.

The RA108 sported an interim white livery for its debut run, ahead of the car’s official launch which will take place on January 29 at the team’s UK factory in Brackley.

Also in action for Honda on Wednesday is Japanese hopeful Takashi Kogure in the Japanese team's older RA107 machine.

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