Photos: Schu begins GP2 test, Cosworth ready to ship engines

UPDATE Michael Schumacher was pleased to have driven in fully dry conditions on Wednesday as the second of three GP2 test days commenced. With a wet track having hampered progress on Tuesday, the 7-time World Champion was able to set up the development car of the F1 feeder series to a more precise level.

"That was a big step forward today because we could drive, around 90 percent of the time, in dry conditions. We could even do two long runs, which went nice and constant."

"These days here in Jerez are definitely worth it because even if I was not driving I would spend the time speaking and discussing with the engineers, working on setups and preparing for the season," he added. gpupdate.net

01/12/10

(GMM) F1's 2010 season shifted into a higher gear on Tuesday.

On a cold and cloudy morning at Jerez, Michael Schumacher began his three-day test in the GP2 series' development car.

He was wearing plain white overalls and his customary bright red helmet, which for the first time was adorned with Mercedes' three-pointed star at the front.

2,000 kilometers north, at Northampton in the UK, returning engine supplier Cosworth was putting the final touches on the shipping boxes of its first completed batch of 2010-spec engines.

Williams, Campos, Lotus, USF1 and Virgin will shortly be receiving the V8 units, dubbed the CA2010, for "installation, fire-up and initial testing", general manager Mark Gallagher announced.

"We're looking forward to seeing them all on track next month since there is still a lot of work to do before the season starts," he added.