Formula One news

Barcelona day 1: Gené sets pace

Ferrari test driver Marc Gené set the pace on the opening day of testing this week as Ferrari, Williams, Red Bull and Scuderia Toro Rosso took to the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona. 

Gené clocked a best lap of 1m16.122s from 100 laps - his Ferrari stopping out on track on his final lap. The Spaniard finished 0.191s ahead of Williams' Nico Rosberg. Ferrari's other test driver, Luca Badoer, finished third fastest, 0.269s off the overall pace.

It was a warm and sunny day at the circuit with air temperature reaching 17 degrees Centigrade and the track 40 degrees.

Narain Karthikeyan was fourth fastest in the second WilliamsF1 car ahead of Red Bull Racing's Christian Klien. Neel Jani finished sixth in the Toro Rosso while David Coulthard's day was cut short after 51 laps when his Red Bull stopped on track.

Ferrari completed the most mileage of any team with 916km, Williams was next with 888km, Red Bull with 467km and Toro Rosso with 411km. The average Grand Prix race distance is approximately 300km.

Testing at Barcelona continues tomorrow.

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