Jerez update: Liuzzi leads in sunny Spain

Tonio Liuzzi set the pace in the opening hour of testing at Jerez on Saturday, topping an unusual looking leaderboard of Force India, Sauber and Toro Rosso.

With the sun beating down on the track, and a happy Renault team reporting that "conditions are bright and sunny, just like yesterday", the final day of testing for this week got underway.

Jarno Trulli was the first man out, making his debut for his new Lotus F1 team. And it appeared everyone in the paddock was happy as Lotus joyously Tweeted that "Jarno's just completed his installation lap with no problems."

The rest of the field, excluding McLaren's Jenson Button, joined the Italian on track where Nico Rosberg and Kamui Kobayashi stayed out to set the first lap times of the morning.

A 1:31.147 for Rosberg and a 1:20.751 for Kobayashi before the Sauber driver's run came to an abrupt end right after the chicane. First red flag of the day.

With the track green-lighted the drivers ventured out again with Trulli setting his first lap time behind the wheel of the T127. A 1:38.619 for the former Toyota driver, some 17s off the pace.

Trulli, though, continued lapping, shaving over ten seconds off his time. "Good to get Jarno in," said team owner Tony Fernandes. "Good times as his first time in car."

Meanwhile, Trulli's former team-mate, Timo Glock, who was back in action for Virgin, posted the team's best time for the week as he crossed the line with a 1:22.856.

Tonio Liuzzi put his Force India up into second place with Fernando Alonso slotting in behind him. The Spaniard, though, was dropped as Jaime Alguersuari went third quickest before heading back to his Toro Rosso garage.

Liuzzi ventured out again for his second short run of the day, overhauling Kobayashi for the P1 slot with his 1:20.036. Next in line for Alguersuari, Alonso, Mark Webber and Glock.

Unofficial Times
1. V. Liuzzi Force India VJM-03 1:20.036 12 laps
2. K. Kobayashi Sauber C29 1:20.751 +0.715 9 laps
3. F. Alonso Ferrari F10 1:21.088 +1.052 13 laps
4. J. Alguersuari Toro Rosso STR5 1:22.014 +1.978 15 laps
5. M. Webber Red Bull Racing RB6 1:22.544 +2.508 24 laps
6. T. Glock Virgin Racing VR-01 1:22.856 +2.820 8 laps
7. R. Kubica Renault R30 1:23.601 +3.565 9 laps
8. N. Hülkenberg Williams FW32 1:24.126 +4.090 22 laps
9. J. Trulli Lotus F1 T127 1:27.324 +7.288 18 laps
10. N. Rosberg Mercedes GP W01 1:31.147 +11.111 4 laps
11. J. Button McLaren MP4-25 1:31.757 +11.721 4 laps

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