Zoom Badoer fastest on day one for Ferrari

The three day test at Circuit de Catalunya kicked off today just days after the Canadian Grand Prix.

As a result just two regular Formula One drivers took part in the Thursday running, giving the test drivers a June workout.

All but Toro Rosso and Force India fielded a single car, as per the regulations this year.

Luca Badoer proved fastest on the day with a best lap of 1:22.412 in the F2008. The Italian veteran completed 81 laps, his fastest coming on lap 27.

Robert Kubica, hot off his first Grand Prix victory on Sunday, was back behind the wheel of the BMW Sauber. The Pole competed 69 laps and was just over two-tenths of a second off Badoer.

David Coulthard and Sebastien Buemi shared a single Red Bull Renault RB4, recording the third and fourth fastest times of the day respectively, while Gary Paffett was pressed into action for McLaren Mercedes and recorded the fifth fastest time of the day.

Anthony Davidson was back behind the wheel of a Formula One car today for the first time since the Spanish Grand Prix at the end of April. With regular Honda test driver Alex Wurz busy racing at Le Mans with Peugeot, Davidson got the call to test with the team. Davidson completed 81 laps and was sixth fastest of the nine runners today.

Former A1GP champion Nico Hulkenberg returned to his testing with Williams Toyota today and recorded the seventh fastest time ahead of Renault protégé and GP2 racer Romain Grosjean in the R28. Kamui Kobayashi brought up the bottom of the timesheets for Toyota.

Testing continues at the circuit on Friday.

Barcelona - 12/06/2008
1 . L. Badoer - Ferrari F2008 - 1:22.412 (+ 0.000 ) - 81 laps
2 . R. Kubica - BMW Sauber F1.08 - 1:22.682 (+ 0.270 ) - 69 laps
3 . D. Coulthard - Red Bull Renault RB4 - 1:22.724 (+ 0.312 ) - 21 laps
4 . S. Buemi - Red Bull Renault RB4 - 1:22.764 (+ 0.352 ) - 79 laps
5 . G. Paffett - McLaren Mercedes MP4-23 - 1:22.938 (+ 0.526 ) - 36 laps
6 . A. Davidson - Honda RA108 - 1:23.208 (+ 0.796 ) - 81 laps
7 . N. Hulkenberg - Williams Toyota FW30 - 1:23.619 (+ 1.207 ) - 112 laps
8 . R. Grosjean - Renault R28 - 1:23.899 (+ 1.487 ) - 60 laps
9 . K. Kobayashi - Toyota TF108 - 1:24.442 (+ 2.030 ) - 82 laps.

Earl ALEXANDER
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