Zoom New aero devices tested on the McLaren Mercedes

The four day test at Jerez came to an end today in a week where various teams tested the slick tyres in readiness for the 2009 season as well as ongoing aerodynamic modifications aimed at the remainder of the season.

Heikki Kovalainen took over testing duties from Pedro de la Rosa and today the McLaren Mercedes MP4-23 sprouted some rather large ‘ears’ on the nosecone which are similar – albeit more elegant - than similar aero devices currently fitted to the Honda RA108. Kovalainen, somewhat under pressure for results, set the best time of the week with a best time of 1:18.385s, eclipsing Sebastian Vettel’s Wednesday time of 1:18.843s.

Sebastien Bourdais also picked up the pace on the final day as he posted a 1:18.746s in the Toro Rosso Ferrari, just under four-tenths of a second off Kovalainen’s best. David Coulthard was third fastest for Red Bull Renault at 1.1s off the ultimate pace while GP2 racer Romain Grosjean was back in action for the Renault team with the fourth fastest time.

Felipe Massa took the controls of the F2008 for the final day of running and today the Ferrari featured a Red Bull style ‘shark fin’ engine cover for the first time as reported this morning. The Brazilian set the fifth fastest time ahead of Kazuki Nakajima and Nick Heidfeld in the Williams Toyota and BMW Sauber respectively.

With Giancarlo Fisichella feeling under the weather, Adrian Sutil conducted the final day of running for the Force India team and recorded the eighth best time while Jenson Button, ninth fastest, was on track for Honda today and running the ‘shark fin’ engine cover as was the case yesterday with Rubens Barrichello behind the wheel.

Kamui Kobayashi took over the Toyota for the final day of the test and despite an off into the gravel trap, and was tenth best with a time 2.5 seconds off the ultimate pace.

Today was the fourth and final day of testing at the Spanish circuit. The teams will be back in action next Friday in free practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Jerez* - 25/07/2008
1 . H. Kovalainen - McLaren Mercedes MP4-23 - 1:18.385 (+ 0.000 ) - 83 laps
2 . S. Bourdais - Toro Rosso Ferrari STR3 - 1:18.746 (+ 0.361 ) - 78 laps
3 . D. Coulthard - Red Bull Renault RB4 - 1:19.494 (+ 1.109 ) - 59 laps
4 . R. Grosjean - Renault R28 - 1:19.561 (+ 1.176 ) - 82 laps