Force India continues work on new gearbox

Tonio Liuzzi continued the Force India Formula One Team's test programme today at a scorchingly hot Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Spain. Despite temperatures approaching the high 30s, the Italian had a full day's schedule to work through, including putting more miles on the team's new seamless shift gearbox, aerodynamic work and brake testing.

In the afternoon, the team also tested the new-for-2009 slick Bridgestone Potenza tyres. Again, the VJM01 ran without any issues, allowing Tonio to complete 380km today.

In a change to the previous schedule, Adrian Sutil will now take over for the final day of testing tomorrow as Giancarlo Fisichella is currently suffering from a minor virus. The Italian will however return to the cockpit at next week's Hungarian Grand Prix.

Dominic Harlow, chief race and test engineer: "Again it has been a productive day for us, with no mechanical issues and 86 laps. This morning we worked through a programme of different set-up options and aero development work and continued to put more mileage on the seamless shift gearbox, which again worked very well. In the afternoon we tested the slick tyres, comparing the development hard and soft compounds that will be introduced next season, and also some further work on the brakes. Adrian will take over tomorrow to continue the programme as planned."

Tonio Liuzzi: "We continued on with yesterday's programme and once again had a very positive day. We could do over 80 laps with the new gearbox without any reliability issues. We also completed some aero work with the new wheel spinners and in the afternoon went onto the 2009 slick tyres to try the different compounds, weight distribution and the set up. I enjoyed it a lot as there is much more grip and the car seemed very well balanced with them. Finally we did some brake testing to finish off what's been a very positive two days of testing."