Zoom Red Bull sticking with the 2008 wings for now

The first winter test session came to a close this afternoon at Circuit de Catalunya. The nine teams present for the group test tried various components in readiness for the 2009 season with the first serious on-track tests of next year’s aerodynamic package and Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems.

With slick tyres also thrown into the equation, the lap times mean little in this test as some teams opted to remain with what is fundamentally the 2008-spec package, while others ran interim cars.

Sebastian Vettel topped the timesheets for the second straight day, eclipsing his Tuesday best of 1:19.751 with a lap today in 1:19.295s. The Red Bull Renault driver led the way from two more Sebastien's with Bourdais second fastest in his Toro Rosso Ferrari from Buemi.

Gary Paffett, back in the KERS equipped McLaren Mercedes today, posted the fourth best time of the day albeit some 1.8 seconds off the pace of the largely unchanged RB4-package. The British test driver also completed a handful of laps in the standard MP4-23.

Following his half day in the Honda on Monday, Bruno Senna was back in action for the team again today. Running a slick tyre programme, Senna was just three-tenths of a second off the pace of Honda regular Jenson Button who ran the 2009-spec front wing and slick tyres. Senna ended his first full day of Formula One testing with the eighth fastest time while Button was fifth.

Christian Klien took over testing duties at BMW Sauber from Robert Kubica as the team continued with the B-spec version of the F1-08 package. Klien was sixth fastest today, a fraction ahead of Nick Heidfeld.

Renault wrapped up its week of running with Nelson Piquet again running low downforce trim on the R28 to simulate expected 2009 levels of downforce. The Brazilian was ninth fastest ahead of Nico Hulkenberg who was back on board the interim Williams Toyota, featuring the 2009-spec wing package and slick tyres.

Ferrari has yet to mention its KERS programme this week, but in the hands of regular tester Luca Badoer, the air-intake for the system can clearly be seen at the front of the right-hand sidepod. Badoer put in 120 laps of the Spanish Grand Prix circuit, just two laps shy of Bourdais who completed the most laps.

Pedro de la Rosa continued to test with the Force India Ferrari team and was joined by Giancarlo Fisichella. The Italian would pip McLaren's tester by a tenth of a second and claim P12 on the timesheets.