The BMW WilliamsF1 Team returned to Jerez yesterday, having previously run here following the launch of the WilliamsF1 BMW FW26 at Valencia in early January.

Conditions were almost perfect, with blue skies, bright sunshine and temperatures reaching 23°C.

Ralf and Marc were both running the FW26, both drivers working on almost identical programmes, concentrating on set-ups in the morning and tyre compound evaluations for Michelin in the afternoon.

Ralf completed 83 laps with a best time of 1:17.311, while Marc, who completed 71 laps, was just 0.040 seconds slower.

Tim Newton (Test Team Manager, WilliamsF1): "Ralf and Marc were on hand today to undertake testing duties for our first day at Jerez. Both drivers concentrated on set-up work of the FW26, Ralf in the 03 chassis and Marc in the 02. During the day, they completed some systems checks as well as doing tyre testing with Michelin. Today Juan Pablo will join Ralf to complete further set-up work on the new car."