Mugello test - day two: 16 August.

Michael Schumacher switched from Fiorano to Mugello for the second day of testing prior to the Belgian Grand Prix, and proved quickest of all at the Tuscan circuit.

Whereas Mika Salo had had the facility to himself on Tuesday, Schumacher was greeted by slightly more action in the shape of two Saubers and a pair of BARs on the circuit today. With three test drivers in the four rival machines, however, the German had little trouble in racking comfortably the fastest time of the session, 1min 27.34secs.

He was followed in the order by second day man Salo, who completed another 59 laps in his search for the right configuration for Spa next weekend. Remarkably, the Finn had completed his work by mid-session, handing over testing duties to Brazilian rookie Enrique Bernoldi for the afternoon. Salo's mark of 1min 29.42secs beat the previous best time for a Sauber at the circuit - 1min 29.55secs - set by Jean Alesi last August. Bernoldi recorded a fourth fastest 1min 30.27secs.

''I did a Grand Prix distance today and learned a lot about our low downforce configuration for Japan and Malaysia, having yesterday worked on our similar aero package for Spa,'' Salo revealed, before explaining where he had been after lunch. ''As a former Ferrari driver, I must say that it has been quite moving here, seeing all the memorials to the late Enzo Ferrari on the anniversary of his death in 1988.''

''Mika finished his test by the lunch break, having done 59 laps,'' confirmed test team boss Jacky Eeckelaert, ''The weather was even hotter today, which was helpful because we were able to work further on cooling configurations for hot races. We were also able to finalise our low downforce aerodynamic configuration for the Japanese and Malaysian Grands Prix over the course of a race distance. Enrique took over in the afternoon, doing back-to-back tests on dampers as part of our ongoing development programme.''

Separating the two Saubers was BAR's Patrick Lemarie who, along with fellow test pilot Darren Manning, was entrusted with the first day of the Brackley squad's Belgian preparations. Both drivers ran in excess of a race distance around Mugello, with the more experienced Frenchman emerging quicker by six-tenths.

The test continues tomorrow [Thursday].

Leading performances (16 August):

Michael Schumacher Ferrari-Ferrari 1min 27.34secs 68 lapsMika Salo Sauber-Petronas 1min 29.42secs 59 lapsPatrick Lemarie BAR-Honda 1min 30.10secs 54 lapsEnrique Bernoldi Sauber-Petronas 1min 30.27secs 29 lapsDarren Manning BAR-Honda 1min 30.73secs 61 laps

[Times courtesy Red Bull Sauber Petronas]