Formula One Testing Day 5: Räikkönen in Control
Manama, 9th February 2008: The pace is quickening at the Bahrain
International Circuit as the second three days of Formula One testing this month
come to a rousing finale. Ferrari’s reigning champion Kimi Räikkönen set the
pace for the fifth time in five days of running in Bahrain this month, logging
his fastest time of 1m 30.015s in the course of 61 laps around the 5.412km
circuit.
Second fastest was once again Räikkönen’s Brazilian team mate, Felipe Massa, the
winner of last year’s Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, who posted a time just under
0.2s shy of the flying Finn. Panasonic Toyota Racing meanwhile upped its pace
considerable as it continued to work through its extensive programme in Bahrain.
Italian star Jarno Trulli logged a best time of 1m 30.944s during 91 laps of
running, closing to within a second of Räikkönen’s pace for the first time.
With Formula One testing coming to an end the focus of the Gulf nations is ahead
to the 2008 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix on April 4-6. Just eight weeks remain
before Bahrain hosts its fifth Grand Prix, which has become the biggest sporting
and social event in the region. With this in mind the Ithmaar Group Yalla
Bahrain! cultural and community festivities are now well underway, with more
than 2,000 people having attended an autograph session with Felipe Massa on
Friday night and many more flooding into the Bahrain International Circuit
yesterday to witness the action on the track and the Yalla Bahrain! F1 Football
Fives five-a-side tournament.
Formula One testing concludes tomorrow, Monday 11th February.
Testing Times – Bahrain International Circuit 9/2/2008
1 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari F2008 61 laps 1m 30.015s
2 Felipe Massa Ferrari F2008 70 laps 1m 30.190s
3 Jarno Trulli Toyota TF108 91 laps 1m 30.944s
4 Timo Glock Toyota TF108 93 laps 1m 31.213s
