Hakkinen stays on top

As with the previous three days of the four day Formula One testing programme in Barcelona, it was Mika Hakkinen who continued to dominate the times improving to a week's best of 1m 21,141 secs in the new McLaren-Mercedes MP4/14 after 36 laps for the day without any serious problems. David Coulthard set the third fastest time of the day of 1m 21,562 secs set in the older McLaren MP4/13 running 89 laps of reliability testing and several practice starts.

Wurz quickest for Benetton

Despite a late start to the day due to gearbox problems for both Benetton B199s , Alexander Wurz completed 70 laps by the end of the day with a 'qualifying' lap of 1m 21,560 secs, second fastest time of the week. Giancarlo Fisichella had to content himself with the fourth fastest time of the day of 1m 22,173 secs, his hopes of a quick lap at the end of the day spoiled by oil on the track from a blown engine.

Alesi fifth for Sauber

Jean Alesi had a better day to-day, the Frenchman running 57 laps with a best of 1m 22,214 secs. His team-mate Pedro Diniz ended the day parked at the side of the track when the engine blew in his car just before the end of the day , the team's second blow- up of the week.

Frentzen sixth in new Jordan

Heinz-Harald Frentzen got to run the new Jordan 199 for the first time to-day, the German setting an early sixth fastest time of the day before going on to drive an impressive 95 laps including a routine engine change with no serious problems. His time was a couple of tenth's faster than Hills best time in the car the previous day.

Honda test car running well

Jos Verstappen ran another 66 laps today and an improved 1m 22,427 secs to put him seventh fastest. Once again the car proved both quick and reliable.

Takagi tests for Arrows

Tora Takagi took over the older Arrows from Pedro de la Rosa to- day , the Japanese driver setting an impressive 1m 23,326 secs during just 35 laps running for the day. Mika Salo continued to run the new Arrows A19, which does not yet have its full aerodynamic package. He completed a more trouble free 65 laps, but was slowest of the day at 1m 23,929 secs.

Troubles for Trulli

Jarno Trulli took over the testing of the new Prost AP02 to-day , but only managed some 55 laps following an engine problem in the morning and then a big blow up in the afternoon with the replacement motor.

Minardi back to base

The Minardi team did not test to-day preferring to take their new car back to base for modifications before returning to Barcelona for further testing next week.

Ferrari head for Barcelona

Snow at their home Mugello circuit has seen the Ferrari team change their testing plans to Barcelona. The will start testing Saturday and Sunday before continuing the following Wednesday with several other teams. Ferrari's presence has also changed the plans of several other teams, McLaren and Benetton expected to continue testing at the weekend while most of the teams are planning to continue testing in Barcelona next week.