The double world champion Fernando Alonso made his comeback today setting the pace in the second of the three day testing in Jerez. Although Alonso was driving the last years car without any driver aids such as traction control, he managed to make a time of 1:19.503 and be the fastest, just 0.147 seconds faster than McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa. Kimi Raikkonen made the third fastest lap in his Ferrari, followed by Nico Rosberg’s Williams. Felipe Massa and Heikki Kovalainen came after them, with the second Ferrari and McLaren.

“There were a lot of good feelings meeting up with the team again today, good memories and plenty of optimism. There are new colours for me, a new helmet that I designed for the new season - the only thing we are missing is the new car! The team is completely different to the one I left in 2006. There have been some big changes, they have improved a lot of things and strengthened many areas, so in one sense it is a new adventure with a new team. At the same time, it is impossible to forget the six years I spent as a Renault driver, and my memories of that time are still strong,” Alonso said.