F1 teams complete extensive running on day two of Magny-Cours test

The second day of Formula 1 testing at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours saw significant ground covered by the participating teams, with all three undertaking valuable development work at the French track.

Leading the way in the endurance stakes were Scuderia Ferrari who completed a total of 165 laps over eight hours of running, with MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS and Sahara Force India also making full use of the morning and afternoon sessions.

As was the case yesterday, Frenchman Jules Bianchi topped the times on home turf by recoding a lap of 1m16.467.

But having produced Tuesday’s effort aboard the Scuderia Ferrari car, Bianchi enjoyed the rare experience of piloting two different Formula 1 machines in 24 hours as he switched to Sahara Force India’s VJM05. Running a total of 117 laps, the Nice-born driver quickly settled into the car in which he has contested seven Formula 1 free practice sessions during the 2012 season.

A 1m17.482 saw second spot go to Britain’s Sam Bird as the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS squad again worked through an extensive development programme. Such was the significance of the team’s work, seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher visited Magny-Cours to check on his outfit’s progress and offer some track tips to test driver Bird. The German possesses a unique insight into the 4.4km circuit having taken an incredible eight French Grand Prix wins at the venue, the most any driver has scored at one race in the history of Formula 1.

Third fastest was Italian racer Davide Rigon who posted a 1m17.925 aboard the Scuderia Ferrari machine. The 27-year-old was making his debut in an official test for the team and used the occasion to cover impressive ground for the world championship-chasing squad.

The test concludes tomorrow with running again scheduled to begin at 9am local time. Bianchi is set to return to the Ferrari car for the final day with Venezuela’s Rodolfo Gonzalez taking his vacated berth in the Force India and MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS fielding Bird’s fellow development driver Brendon Hartley…

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Info Circuit Magny-Cours / © Photo JF Galeron