Davidson starts testing for Honda

The first day of Honda Racing F1 Team's 2006 testing programme began at the Circuito de Jerez in Southern Spain this morning. Anthony Davidson, who was earlier this week confirmed as third driver, took the track today.

The weather was fine but very cold initially, which meant there was little running on track before 11am. As a result, Anthony Davidson worked through system checks in chassis 078-08 in the early part of the morning before going out on track in warmer conditions to run through basic set-up work and find a good balance in the car. Davidson spent the afternoon session running through a tyre evaluation and completed his full test programme over an impressive 113 laps.

In chassis 078-07, James Rossiter also spent the early part of the morning in the garage completing system checks. Once out on track he ran through a front aero evaluation. Rossiter completed a further aero evaluation in the afternoon alongside a tyre programme, completing 105 laps today.

Davidson will continue in chassis 078-08 tomorrow, with new driver Rubens Barrichello joining the team for his first test. Barrichello will drive the 2005 chassis 007-06 before moving into chassis 078-07.

NB: Michael Schumacher is driving a 2004 Ferrari chassis with a V8 engine

1 P. De La Rosa 01:16.500 V10
2 M. Schumacher 01:17.950 V8
3 R. Zonta 01:18.546 V8
4 F. Alonso 01:18.578 V10
5 N. Heidfeld 01:18.819 V8
6 G. Fisichella 01:19.128 V8
7 R. Schumacher 01:19.189 V8
8 N. Rosberg 01:19.374 V8
9 A. Davidson 01:19.432 V8
10 L. Badoer 01:19.774 V10
11 J. Rossiter 01:19.889 V8
12 J. Trulli 01:19.969 V8
13 G. Paffett 01:20.136 V10
14 V. Liuzzi 01:20.204 V10
15 A. Wurz 01:20.758 V8
15 D. Coulthard 01:21.198 V8