Wirth Research, the design and development team responsible for Virgin Racing's all-digital F1, have put the VR-01 through its final paces ahead of tomorrow's shakedown at Silverstone.

Although he may have raced in no less than eight Grands Prix last year, Wednesday marked the first ever Formula 1 test day for Jaime Alguersuari. Due to the in-season testing ban, the Barcelona-born 19-year-old has been unable to drive a car outside of a race weekend since his debut in Hungary last July.

Vitaly Petrov was pleased with his work after racking up another 75 laps on his first outing for Renault. The 25-year-old team-mate to Robert Kubica makes Formula 1 history this year by becoming the sport's first ever Russian driver.

World Champion Jenson Button was out on-track in a McLaren for the first time on Wednesday. The Englishman posted a lap time of 1:12.951 to finish fifth fastest of the seven runners in Valencia, one and a half seconds slower than Fernando Alonso's Ferrari, but insists that distinguishing cars' individual speeds is currently impossible.

Fernando Alonso, making his debut for Ferrari, topped the timesheets on the final day of testing at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo.

Following what a have been several turbulent months for the Sauber team, which saw previous owner BMW announce its Formula 1 exit back in July, the Hinwil outfit has enjoyed registering the second fastest time on all three days of Valencia's opening pre-season test, confirming itself 'best of the rest' behind the flying Ferrari.

Fernando Alonso has described Ferrari's as a comfortable environment after his first day of testing with the Scuderia on Wednesday. The Spaniard easily topped the timesheets to ensure the Italian team remained quickest in Valencia, six tenths of a second faster than compatriot Pedro de la Rosa's Sauber.

Nico Hülkenberg enjoyed his first experience of being a Formula 1 driver in Valencia on Wednesday as the GP2 Champion took over from Rubens Barrichello for the final day of the 3-day test. However, the German's best lap time of 1:13.669 placed him last of the seven runners on-track.

Michael Schumacher's running was cut short in Valencia on Wednesday when a hydraulics problem turned out to be Mercedes' first mechanical issue of the year. Nevertheless, the 7-time World Champion still managed the third quickest time of the day and notched up another 82 laps.

Fernando Alonso sets the fastest time as Ferrari send out a warning to their rivals at the Valencia Formula 1 test.

Today's test times, the third and final day at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo

Fernando Alonso confirmed Ferrari's rapid pace by topping the timesheets as testing came to a close in Valencia on Wednesday. The Spaniard's outing was his first for the Maranello team as reigning World Champion Jenson Button made his first appearance at the wheel of a McLaren.

Fernando Alonso has begun his Ferrari career in style today, topping the Valencia timesheets at the mid-way point.

Force India will unveil its 2010 challenger, the VJM03, in an online presentation on 9 February, before its official testing debut at Jerez circuit the following day.

Having been confirmed as moving to the Le Mans Series on Monday, the identification of Giancarlo Fisichella's team is now known. The Ferrari Formula 1 test driver will be a team-mate to former F1 star Jean Alesi at AF Corse in a GT2-class Ferrari 430 as the team enters a full season for the first time.

The Force India team has confirmed that it will be launching this year's car live via the internet next Tuesday. The revealing of the Mercedes-powered VJM03 will take place a day before the Silverstone-based outfit begins its pre-season testing programme in Jerez.

Despite being thrilled to see Virgin Racing's car unveiled in England on Wednesday, Nick Wirth will be keeping his feet on the ground this season as the Sheffield-based team makes its Formula 1 debut.

This week, the GP2 Asia paddock returns to Abu Dhabi for the second round of the season with a new and exciting challenge: racing at twilight.

Virgin Racing becomes the first of the four new F1 teams to unveil its car.

Virgin Racing today unveiled its 2010 contender the VR-01, thereby becoming the first of the new teams to pull the wraps off its first chassis.

John Booth is extremely grateful to all of those who have contributed to Virgin Racing's first Formula 1 car, which was launched in Leighton Buzzard on Wednesday. The Team Principal of the outfit originally known as Manor GP now thoroughly looks forward to seeing the VR-01 on-track at the English circuit this week.

Sir Richard Branson is highly animated over Virgin Racing's first Formula 1 car, which was revealed in Leighton Buzzard on Wednesday. The London entrepreneur makes his first move into the sport with a team under the Virgin name after being associated with title-winning Brawn GP last year.

Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button and Michael Schumacher are all running their new 2010 cars on the final day's testing in Valencia.

The brand-new Virgin Racing has unveiled its first car as it becomes one of Formula 1's four new teams for the 2010 season. The VR-01, to be driven by Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi, has been dubbed F1's 'first all-digital' car due to designer Nick Wirth's sole use of computer technology as opposed to wind tunnel development.

There was a media frenzy at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo this morning as Fernando Alonso took to the track in his Ferrari F10, the Spanish two-time world champion making his debut for the legendary Italian team.

Five drivers began this year's testing programme in Valencia on Wednesday morning, notably World Champions Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso with new teams Mercedes and Ferrari, respectively. Two of this season's rookies are also driving in Spain as well as Jaime Alguersuari, who has started his first Formula 1 test.         

Wednesday marks the final day for this week's testing in Valencia before the teams move on to Jerez in seven days' time. With Ferrari having been fastest with Felipe Massa on both Monday and Tuesday, five drivers travel to the Ricardo Tormo circuit today for their first outings of the week.

Wednesday will see the brand-new Virgin Racing team will reveal the car with which it will enter Formula 1 this year. The Cosworth-powered machine is set to be piloted by ex Toyota driver Timo Glock and 2007 GP2 title rival Lucas di Grassi, who makes his F1 debut in 2010.