Williams novice upstages Alonso

Hulkenberg narrowly deposed Alonso's Ferrari for fastest time of the day

By Sarah Holt BBC Sport at the Circuit de Catalunya

Williams rookie Nico Hulkenberg stole the spotlight from Ferrari's Fernando Alonso on the second day of the final pre-season test in Barcelona.

Double world champion Alonso looked set to top the times with an impressive lap set in the morning but the German beat him by 0.023 seconds later on.

Hulkenberg's time of one minute 20.614 secs remained unbeaten as the fastest time so far at the four-day test.

Michael Schumacher was seventh fastest, just ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, whose team-mate Mark Webber set the fastest time of the first day of the test, was fifth fastest, just dipping under the Australian's best lap with a 1:21.258.

Like Webber, the German stopped out on the track, something of a recurring theme for Red Bull this pre-season.

We have a good baseline with this car and the engine and my goal is to score many, many points Nico Hulkenberg Williams driver

But Vettel said: "Sometimes it's normal to stop rather than risk doing damage, whereas in a race you obviously try to push it. I don't think we have to fear reliability problems."

Williams, like Ferrari and many of the other teams, are using this test to try out new aerodynamic parts aimed at improving their car's performance at the first race of the season in Bahrain on 14 March.

Hulkenberg set the time as part of what looked like a simulation of a qualifying run, and said he was optimistic that Williams could put on a good showing in Bahrain.

"A fastest lap could be possible but I'm not sure about a podium," the German said.

"Unlike last year I hope we can carry forward our Friday pace into qualifying and the race.

"We have a good baseline with this car and the engine and my goal is to score many, many points."

Unlike Hulkenberg, who set his fastest lap on one short run, Alonso's was set during a series of formidable-looking runs, in which he produced a series of consistently quick times around the same pace as his fastest lap time.

Alonso and Ferrari have looked consistently impressive in testing

Alonso's fastest lap was more than 0.7secs quicker than the best time set by Red Bull's Mark Webber in a similar series of runs on Thursday.

He also completed a race simulation run in the afternoon session, with a fastest lap of 1:21.669secs.

That maintains the impression the Italian team have given throughout winter testing, that they are in the best shape ahead of the new season.

It is, though, difficult to make accurate predictions from testing, as it is impossible to know the fuel loads the teams are running.

These - along with ambient temperature and other factors - can have a dramatic effect on performance.

Equally, McLaren and Mercedes, the other two top teams, do not yet appear to have done similar low-fuel runs to those by Webber and Alonso.

McLaren have a big package of new parts to fit to the car overnight to try out on Saturday, when Jenson Button will take over from Hamilton.

606: DEBATE What makes this season potentially fun is that there is a real chance that the championship winner will not be the fastest car, but the one that finds the best balance over the course of a race between pace, tyre wear, fuel economy and handling. Stargazer

That will put the car into pretty much the specification in which it will race in Bahrain.

Red Bull are also expected to have some new parts on their car on Saturday.

Mercedes, by contrast, will wait until Bahrain to introduce their definitive aerodynamic package - which will include a modified diffuser, a crucial part that defines airflow at the back of the car and has a huge role in producing downforce.

The test at the Circuit de Catalunya continues over the weekend.

More to follow.

Fastest times from second day of Barcelona test:

1. Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Williams-Cosworth 1m20.614s

2. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Ferrari 1m20.637s (+0.023)

3. Pedro de la Rosa (Spa) Sauber-Ferrari 1m20.973s (+0.359)

4. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Force India-Mercedes 1m21.056s (+0.442)

5. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Red Bull-Renault 1m21.258s (+0.644)

6. Jaime Alguersuari (Spa) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m21.571s (+0.957)

7. Michael Schumacher (Ger) Mercedes 1m21.689s (+1.075)

8. Lewis Hamilton (GB McLaren-Mercedes 1m22.152s (+1.538)

9. Robert Kubica (Pol) Renault 1m24.912s (+4.298)

10. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Lotus-Cosworth 1m25.524s (+4.910)

11. Timo Glock (Ger) Virgin-Cosworth 1m25.942s (+5.328)

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