Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher maintained his stranglehold at the top of the timesheets on Wednesday, the second day of testing at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya. Schumacher clocked a best time of 1m 21.489s in the Ferrari at the Spanish track - four-tenths of a second quicker than the McLaren of Pedro de la Rosa.

Despite the low temperatures and cloudy conditions, the German completed 90 laps in the F2007. He was joined by former team mate Felipe Massa, who finished the day in fourth. Massa and Schumacher both worked on the development of new components and electronics. The Brazilian will continue at the track on Thursday, alongside Ferrari tester Luca Badoer.

Second-placed De la Rosa was joined by fellow McLaren tester Gary Paffett who finished in fifth. The pair continued the team's preparations for 2008, testing the MP4-22 without driver aids. They covered a total of 117 laps and will be back in action on Thursday.

Renault's Heikki Kovalainen clocked the third-fastest time, as he continued testing the new electronic control unit (ECU). Despite a minor technical glitch in the afternoon, Kovalainen completed 65 laps.

Nico Rosberg set the pace for Williams, finishing in sixth. He was joined by ninth-placed team mate Kazuki Nakajima. Both worked through system checks and evaluations of the new ECU and will be back in action on Thursday for a third day.

Red Bull's David Coulthard was seventh fastest. Coulthard completed 74 laps in the RB3, while testing various mechanical and aerodynamic components for 2008. The Scot was joined on track by debutant Karun Chandhok, 11th, who focused on evaluating the squad's electrical systems for next season during his second - and final - day of testing. Robert Doornbos will take over Chandhok's cockpit on Thursday.

Nick Heidfeld proved the quicker of the two BMW Sauber drivers in eighth, with team mate Robert Kubica posting the 14th-fastest time. Both tested the new ECU, alongside several other new components for next season. Heidfeld covered 102 laps, while Kubica, who experienced several technical issues, managed just 37.

Sebastian Vettel once again got the edge on new Toro Rosso team mate Sebastien Bourdais. Vettel finished in 10th, while Bourdais posted exactly the same time as Honda debutant Luca Filippi to tie for 16th. GP2 driver Filippi was joined by the Japanese team's race driver Jenson Button, who got his first taste of the car with 2008 electronics and finished in 12th.

Jarno Trulli continued to set the pace for Toyota claiming 13th spot, with team tester Franck Montagny ending the day in 18th. Montagny carried on testing the ECU, while Trulli continued to evaluate 2008 parts in a TF107 without traction control.

"Today was quite a productive day," explained Pascal Vasselon, senior general manager chassis. "We made good progress on Jarno's car, working on set-up comparisons and we are pleased with the results, which are very encouraging. Franck again worked with 2008 development parts and the new standard ECU and, even though he suffered some delays and was not entirely happy, he was able to bring back some information which will help our understanding."

Anthony Davidson remained Super Aguri's only runner at the Spanish circuit and clocked the 15th-fastest time. Davidson carried out an engine and gearbox programme before switching to 2008 suspension and aero work in the afternoon.

Completing Wednesday's line-up was a trio of drivers for Force India. Confirmed race driver Adrian Sutil, 20th, was joined by former Honda tester Christian Klien, 19th, and ex-Toro Rosso racer Vitantonio Liuzzi, 21st. All three finished within two-tenths of a second of each other.

While Sutil had full use of a re-liveried Spyker F8-VII all day, Liuzzi and Klien traded places in the other, with the Austrian handing the car over to the Italian after lunch.

"Generally a very productive day of testing," said chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne. "Our major test item on both cars was the standard ECU configuration. We had no major problems and were work through to get through the unsolved issues, with both cars completing over 100 laps each. It was also a chance to test Christian and Tonio, who had their first runs in the car to make themselves comfortable. We will continue our programme tomorrow with them driving a car each for the whole day."

Formula One will continue with 11 teams next season after Prodrive ruled out their scheduled participation due to a legal challenge and commercial uncertainty.The British-based team, who had hoped to use cars and engines provided by frontrunners McLaren and Mercedes, said in a statement on Friday that they still wanted to enter the sport one day however.

"Over the past 18 months we have put considerable effort into securing an agreement for the supply of cars and engines from McLaren and Mercedes, as well as financial backing from a partner new to the sport," Prodrive said.

"It was therefore particularly disappointing to face a last minute legal challenge to our entry, when our plans have been public knowledge for over a year.

"This legal challenge and continuing delays to the new 'Concorde Agreement' represent a fundamental change in circumstances," it added.

"Therefore we must now realistically rule out the possibility of Prodrive being on the grid in 2008."

Prodrive, run by former BAR and Benetton team boss David Richards (pictured), had secured the 12th and final team slot in Formula One after being chosen by the governing FIA from 22 applicants in April last year.

However their plans to become effectively a McLaren 'B' team were stymied by a legal challenge from former champions Williams, who see the arrival of so-called 'customer cars' as a threat to their existence.

Prodrive's budget was estimated at around $75 million a year, compared to hundreds of millions for the bigger established teams.

The Formula One rules were due to be changed next year to reduce costs and allow teams to use cars built and designed by others. However, the existing teams have yet to sign a new commercial 'Concorde' agreement.

Prodrive warned in October that a new team could not be viable financially until such an agreement was reached determining the eligibility for revenues for those teams who did not design and build their own cars.

Friday's statement said the team's entire business model was built on the premise that customer cars would be allowed next season.

"It is...still our ambition to compete in Formula One and we are hopeful that a new Concorde Agreement between the FIA, FOA (Formula One Administration) and teams will provide clarity as to the terms on which this might be possible," Prodrive added.

"When this new agreement is reached, we will be in a position to consider the extent to which we can adapt our plans for participation in the future."
Reuters