Practice 3 Report - Alonso tops times

Fernando Alonso's Ferrari (1:32.167) topped the final session of free practice for the British GP as teams finally got some dry running at Silverstone.

The circuit was still slippery at the beginning of the session, with a tricky wet patch in the middle of the Becketts sweepers, but dried out towards the end.

Jenson Button gave the home supporters cheer with second fastest time (1:32.320) on a seven lap old set of prime tyres, while the rest of the top 10 set their best laps on the options.

Lotus again look competitive with Romain Grosjean third (1:32.358) and Kimi Raikkonen fifth (1:32.454), the pair split by Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull (1:32.420).

Lewis Hamilton set the pace for much of the session but ended up sixth quickest (1:32.477), ahead of Pastor Maldonado's Williams (1:32.622) and the Saubers of Sergio Perez (1:32.940) and Kamui Kobayashi.

Alonso and Perez were among those who indulged in quick spins, the championship leader's Ferrari sporting a heavily revised front wing.

The problems of Friday -- when circuit organisers had to take the drastic step of advising those without public car parking tickets not to come on Saturday, in the hope of having enough car parking capacity for race day -- do not appear to have deterred too many spectators.

Among those affected by the Friday chaos was Bernie Ecclestone, who normally arrives by helicopter but was unable to because of the bad weather. Faced with the traffic, Mr E was advised that it would be better for him to stay away...