Jerez test - day one: September 13.

Renault third driver, Heikki Kovalainen topped the times at Jerez on Wednesday, ahead of the final three races of the season.

The Finn, who will take over the race-seat vacated by his McLaren-Mercedes bound team-mate, Fernando Alonso in 2007, competed over 100 laps in the R26, his best a 1 minute 17.236 seconds, around three tenths up on Anthony Davidson, who was 'best of the rest' for Honda.

Kovalainen spent the day concentrating on tyre testing with Michelin, focusing on the selection for the Chinese Grand Prix in two weeks' time. RDD driver, Jose Maria Lopez joined him on track in the sister R26, working on set-up and also completing an important brake development programme. He finished the day third - his best a 1m 17.617s, having managed 94 laps. Giancarlo Fisichella will take over from Lopez alongside Kovalainen on Thursday.

"We have enjoyed a good first day at the test. We were expecting dirty track conditions that would change all the way through the day, but this didn't prove to be the case," reflected Christian Silk, Renault's chief test engineer. "Conditions were good immediately which allowed us to make good progress with our tyre testing. Heikki and Jose both put in a good day's work."

Of the rest, Davidson and Rubens Barrichello managed over 200 laps for Honda, both focusing initially on set-up, before switching to aero evaluations. In the afternoon the emphasis switched more to tyres with Davidson running an additional aero programme, while Barrichello did some electronic systems work. James Rossiter will take over from Davidson on day two.

Red Bull Racing were the only other team on track - reserve driver, Robert Doornbos fifth fastest on a 1m 19.527s. He completed 111 laps, as he looks to get up to speed ahead of his return to racing, having been drafted in to replace Christian Klien for the final three grand's prix. Arden's GP2 driver, Michael Ammermuller was also on track for the Milton-Keynes based outfit, just a tenth slower than Doornbos.

Ferrari meanwhile were in action too, however they were not running at Jerez, preferring instead to test at Paul Ricard - Luca Badoer having kicked off their programme on Tuesday at Fiorano.

Testing now continues on Thursday.

Leading times (September 13) - Jerez:

1. Heikki Kovalainen Renault-Renault 1min 17.236secs 102 laps
2. Anthony Davidson Honda-Honda 1min 17.500secs 125 laps
3. Jose Maria Lopez Renault-Renault 1min 17.617secs 94 laps
4. Rubens Barrichello Honda-Honda 1min 18.425secs 89 laps
5. Robert Doornbos Red Bull-Ferrari 1min 19.527secs 111 laps
6. Michael Ammermuller Red Bull-Ferrari 1min 19.614secs 102 laps

all on Michelin tyres

Weather/Track conditions: Dry.

all times unofficial - courtesy of the official Circuito de Jerez website