BARCELONA TEST – DAY 1 25 February 2010

Circuit: Circuit de Catalunya – 4.655 kmsDriver: Jaime AlguersuariChassis: STR5 - 02Best time: 1:24.869, 111 laps

In the words of Swedish rock group, “Europe,” it’s the final countdown.”Eleven teams began a four day test in Barcelona, the last session of thewinter, before the serious business begins in Bahrain in a couple ofweeks.

With Jaime and two other Spanish drivers on track today, the crowdsbegan queuing to get in well before the start of the action at nine o’clock,while members of Jaime’s Fan Club soon had a banner hanging from thegrandstand opposite the pits. He gave them plenty to see, as hecompleted 111 laps, the most of any driver today. The morning wasdedicated to set-up work on the STR5, while in the afternoon, the teamevaluated a new braking system. Throughout the day, the car ran on justone of the three Bridgestone compounds available here.“It was encouraging to have another trouble free day, completing a highmileage,” said Jaime Alguersuari. “We learned a lot doing long runs onthe Soft compound tyre and I’m looking forward to tackling a differentprogramme tomorrow.”

Alguersuari has one more day in the cockpit, before Sebastien Buemitakes over for Saturday and Sunday.