JANUARY 18, 2002

Ralf leads the way at Valencia test

With the McLarens finished with their testing program for the week, Ralf Schumacher, wearing glasses for the first time behind the wheel of a Formula One car, was able to top the time sheets at Valencia on Friday.

WITH the McLarens finished with their testing program for the week, Ralf Schumacher, wearing glasses for the first time behind the wheel of a Formula One car, was able to top the time sheets at Valencia on Friday. The German was joined by fellow Williams teammates Anthony Pizzonia and Marc Gene at the Spanish circuit.

Olivier Panis and Jacques Villeneuve conducted testing in BAR 004s Friday, and Mika Salo was again the sole Toyota tester in Spain.

Minardi tested with Australian Mark Webber and Dutchman Christijan Albers for the second day in a row, and Paul Stoddart had positive comments about Webbers testing performances and the possibility of Webber securing the second seat on the team. "He's done a damn good job, he's on the shortest of the short lists."

Ferrari, Williams and BAR are expected to continue testing at Valencia on Saturday.

VALENCIA TEST - FRIDAY, 18 JANUARY 2002 POS DRIVER ENTRANT TIME 1. RALF SCHUMACHER Williams-BMW 1:12.997 2. OLIVIER PANIS BAR-Honda 1:13.771 3. ANTONIO PIZZONIA Williams-BMW 1:13.897 4. JACQUES VILLENEUVE BAR-Honda 1:14.023 5. MARC GENE Williams-BMW 1:14.098 6. MIKA SALO Toyota 1:14.661 7. ANTHONY DAVIDSON BAR-Honda 1:15.102 8. MARK WEBBER Minardi-Cosworth 1:16.730 9. CHRISTIJAN ALBERS Minardi-Cosworth 1:17.620