Raikkonen enjoys first outing with McLaren

New McLaren signing Kimi Raikkonen declared himself fully satisfied after his first outing in one of the Formula One team's cars on Tuesday.

"I really enjoyed my first drive in the McLaren," he said after a rain-hit day of testing at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya.

"It was the moment I had been waiting for during the last couple of months. Now I can't wait to try the new MP4-17," added the Finn, who has moved from Sauber to replace compatriot and two times champion Mika Hakkinen.

Hakkinen is taking a sabbatical year and Barcelona represented the low point of 2001 for him after his McLaren expired a mere handful of curves from the finish while he was leading comfortably.

McLaren, championship runners-up for the past three seasons, are testing with modified versions of their 2001 car until the launch of the 2002 model in Barcelona on January 19.

"I only had a limited amount of running today and it's definitely too early for me to make detailed observations about the car," added 22-year-old Raikkonen.

"But I am impressed overall and with the professionalism of the team and observing how David works."

The Finn was sixth fastest on a day when his Scottish team mate David Coulthard was fastest in one minute 20.816 seconds. Ralf Schumacher, in a Williams, was second quickest in 1:21.273.

The Scot's lap was well off Michael Schumacher's 2001 Spanish Grand Prix pole of 1:18.201 but times in testing mean little, with teams testing different aspects of the cars and running on varied fuel loads.

World champions Ferrari also returned to the track for the first time since the end of the testing ban running from October 14 to the New Year.

The day was a special one for Brazilian Luciano Burti, returning to a Formula One car for the first time since his big accident in a Prost in Belgium in September.

Burti, now Ferrari's second test driver and at the wheel of last year's F2001, concentrated on testing wet weather and intermediate tyres and trying out new mechanical components.

"I am happy with the way testing went," said the Brazilian, who also drove for Jaguar last year. "My aim for today was to get to grips with the car and get some miles under my belt.

"It was a great feeling driving again after what happened last year and it is fantastic to be part of a team like Ferrari, driving a world championship winning car, the F2001."

Burti's compatriot Felipe Massa had his first official test session as a Sauber driver.

Renault, Benetton last season, took to the track with Briton Jenson Button and Italian Jarno Trulli in last season's Benetton re-painted in the French carmaker's yellow and white colours.

Newcomers Toyota also joined the crowd in Spain, with Scot Allan McNish setting the fifth fastest time in the new 2002 car in highly changeable conditions.