New McLaren Breaks Lap Record!

[oggs]

The opening salvo of the 2004 season has been fired, with McLaren's new MP4-19 breaking the track record at Valencia on just its third day of running.

The new charger, at the hands of David Coulthard, registered a best lap of 1:10.021 on Thursday.

The Scot, though, wasn't getting carried away afterwards. "Is it quick enough to win a grand prix?. That's the question and we just won't know until we get to Melbourne and see what everyone else can do," he said to Autosport. "The good thing is "we're out here now and have more time to develop the car."

Third-placed Jarno Trulli split the Williams duo of Juan Montoya and Ralf Schumacher, but perhaps more significant was the sight of Justin Wilson finishing above Mark Webber.

The Englishman is fighting for his F1 life and responded in the best possible way with a 1:11.866.

Valencia Day Three
1 David Coulthard McLaren MP4-19 1:10.021
2 Juan Pablo Montoya Williams 1:10.218
3 Jarno Trulli Renault 1:10.419
4 Ralf Schumacher Williams 1:10.601
5 Marc Gene Williams 1:11.013
6 Franck Montagny Renault 1:11.035
7 Alexander Wurz McLaren MP4-17D 1:11.252
8 Ryan Briscoe Toyota 1:11.562
9 Justin Wilson Jaguar 1:11.866
10 Mark Webber Jaguar 1:12.133

[hut49]

Justin W may have a better chance of retaining his seat in the Jag since Wurz today indicated he will sign a contract with McLaren-Mercedes as a test driver.

[daydreamer]

itv-f1 said:

1 COULTHARD McLaren Mercedes 1m10.021s 2 MONTOYA Williams BMW 1m10.217s 3 TRULLI Renault 1m10.424s 4 WILSON Jaguar 1m10.527s 5 SCHUMACHER Williams BMW 1m10.603s 6 GENE Williams BMW 1m11.011s 7 MONTAGNY Renault 1m11.035s 8 WURZ McLaren Mercedes 1m11.145s 9 BRISCOE Toyota 1m11.918s 10 WEBBER Jaguar 1m12.129s

Which should also help Wilson - they were obviously on different programmes, but still.

[FourWheelDrift]

Wilson's 1m10s was on a low fuel load, they other time from today where he is a few tenths faster is actually the more impressive.

Go Justin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DustyC]

oggs said:

Justin Wilson finishing above Mark Webber.

Keep up the good work

[FourWheelDrift]

I think Justin is looking good for the drive at Jaguar next year, Alex Wurz has just resigned to be McLaren test driver again next year

[hut49]

I think there's an echo in here

[FourWheelDrift]

hut49 said:

I think there's an echo in here

It's been a long day.