"The morning session was helpful running several sets of tyres for Michelin", said Tim Newton, WilliamsF1 Test team manager.

The days testing would see the teams having to abandon their test schedules with heavy showers hitting the circuit. Despite the wet weather Juan Pablo was to take the opportunity to test rain-tyres. In the wet conditions Juan Pablo completed only eight laps.

For Coulthard, after his fifth fastest time on Wednesday, his time would see him not only beat Montoya but also his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen. Raikkonen was fourth fastest, just two tenths of a second slower than the Renault of Italian Jarno Trulli, who completed 45 laps for the rapidly improving team.

Renault test driver, Fernando Alonso, was fifth fastest working on a new traction control system and was able to test the new design in the wet during the afternoon session.

Sauber's Nick Heidfeld was more than two seconds off the pace in sixth. For the Jaguar team their troubles continued with both drivers considerably off the pace.
Pedro de la Rosa was seventh and Eddie Irvine was the slowest driver of the day.

Driver Team/Engine Times Lap(s)

01. David Coulthard - McLaren - 1:10.811 - 62
02. Juan Pablo Montoya - Williams - 1:12.318 - 67
03. Jarno Trulli - Renault - 1:12.401 - 46
04. Kimi Raikkonen - McLaren - 1:12.670 - 60
05. Fernando Alonso - Renault - 1:12.710 - 57
06. Nick Heidfeld - Sauber - 1:13.147 - 96
07. Pedro De La Rosa - Jaguar - 1:13.206 - 34
08. Eddie Irvine - Jaguar - 1:14.292 - 43