After three days of successful dry testing, the rain finally arrived on cue this morning at the Circuit de Catalunya. Shortly after Jarno Trulli completed his installation lap the heavens opened and the circuit was drenched by heavy rain that continued throughout the morning. The downpour stopped at lunchtime, after which the teams ventured out onto the track. Unfortunately more showers followed, further shortening the running time in the afternoon. Unlike other teams, Jarno did no running on dry tyres. 

Webber quickest at rain-hit Barcelona

Mark Webber set the fastest lap time on the final day of testing this week at Barcelona, on a day that was hit by torrential rain in the morning and afternoon. There was a brief point just after lunch when the track dried out long enough for Webber to set a lap of 1m21.9s. 

Lewis Hamilton is optimistic of getting his season back on track at the Spanish Grand Prix on 27 April.

FIA President Max Mosley will also skip next week's Spanish Grand Prix. Mosley, who skipped the third round in the Formula 1 championship due to allegations about his private life published at the website of British newspaper News of the world. Instead, Mosley will attend the Jordan Rally.

Lewis Hamilton's second in season in Formula 1 couldn't have started better. The young Briton won the opening round in Melbourne, but in Malaysia and Bahrain he failed to finish on the podium. With the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix next week Hamilton isn't too worried though. The McLaren driver is confident the team can battle for the race win in Barcelona.

Midday Times: Barcelona 17-04

Michael Schumacher believes the Ferrari team can win next week's Spanish Grand Prix. According to the German the competition is hard, but Ferrari's package is slightly better currently than McLaren and BMW. Schumacher completed a day of testing on Wednesday for Ferrari.

Alonso unsure of progress

The Formula 1 teams testing at Circuit de Catalunya faced heavy rain on Thursday morning. At 9.30am rain came down keeping the teams and drivers in their pitbox waiting for the track to get better again.

On Wednesday Michael Schumacher returned behind the wheel of a Ferrari Formula 1 car at Circuit de Catalunya. The German ex-Formula One driver completed a day of testing with the Italian team to help them, and tyre manufacturer Bridgestone, with testing the Bridgestone slicks in Spain.

Standing by its word

On Wednesday, Scuderia Toro Rosso started a two day test, running the new STR3 car for the first time. Having started this season with a modified version of the 2007 car, (STR2B) the plan was to introduce the new car as from the Turkish Grand Prix in two races time.