Renault test driver Franck Montagny topped the timesheets on the final day of testing at Jerez.
As testing for the 2005 World Championship season came to an end, it was Renault test driver Franck Montagny who set the pace as the French outfit prepares for its battle for the Constructors' Championship with McLaren.
The Frenchman completed a massive 151 laps as he completed a series of long runs whilst evaluating tyre compounds for Michelin. He was joined by Lucas di Grassi who continues to familiarise himself with the R25, having made his F1 debut on Thursday.
Second quickest, and just 0.264s off the pace, was Anthony Davidson, who completed 150 laps as he evaluated aerodynamic and suspension components, in addition to tyre testing. The Englishman was joined by James Rossiter, who continued work with the 2006 'development' car that Davidson drove on Thursday.
"It was a good test today," said Rossiter, "and I am pleased to have been able to help the team with the final test programme of the season. We concentrated mainly on tyre and aero work in the development car.
"I've driven around Jerez in wet conditions last year but it is a very different experience in the dry and a circuit that I really enjoyed. I'm continuing to build my experience in the car and hope to be able to contribute more and more as my driving develops."
Jarno Trulli drove the TF105B, which it is now believed both he and Ralf Schumacher will drive in Japan, though a final decision has yet to be made. Despite an engine failure, which cost valuable track-time in the morning, the Italian completed 91 laps, finishing 0.82s off the pace.
Zonta drove back-to-back tests with the TF105 and a V8 version, completing a total of 132 laps. The best time posted in the V8 car was almost 3s off the pace of the 2005 car.
"I was having my first run with the V8-engined car which the team will be racing in 2006 to the new engine regulations," said the Brazilian. "Then, when we had used up the V8 engine mileage on the last day, I drove the standard V10-engined TF105 to do some tyre testing for Suzuka."
Asked how the V8 is progressing, he replied: "When Olivier (Panis) first drove the car at Jerez he was not using the engine to its full potential because it was just a shakedown test. But even then he predicted that a 1:20s lap should be possible around Jerez with a V8 and that it would be about 2.5s slower than a V10-engined car around here.
"By the second day of the test, that's exactly the time I was down to, so Olivier should take up fortune-telling!
"We have two cylinders less and therefore 20% less power," he said of the V8, "so every team and every driver is going to find the cars less challenging, because part of the reason for the new engine regulations is to stop speeds getting too high in F1. You hear people talking about the harsher vibrations of a V8 engine and so I was actually pleasantly surprised at how smooth the Toyota is. I think the engine guys have done a good job."
David Coulthard took over the Red bull car, which has been driven by Tonio Liuzzi and Christian Klien on previous days. The Scot completed 65 laps, finishing 1.4s off the pace.
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