Villeneuve speeds up as Trulli tests Toyota
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-09-17 10:08

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve moved up a gear on his second and final day of testing for Renault on Thursday while Italian Jarno Trulli tried out a Toyota after joining the Japanese team.

 "Today was another step forward as I continued learning about the car," declared former champion Villeneuve, who was third fastest at Silverstone.

 The 1997 champion is expected to return to racing, after a year out, at next week's Chinese Grand Prix.

 "This morning was quite difficult as I was still moving about in my seat, and therefore could not feel the car's handling as well as I needed to, but we solved the problem," added the Canadian.

 Villeneuve was drafted in by Renault, battling the Canadian's former team BAR for second place in the constructors' championship, after Trulli departed.

 "We made some initial set-up changes this afternoon and things looked positive, I was able to attack in the car and I am pleased with the time we set," said the 33-year-old.

 "The team has given me a great welcome this week, and I am very pleased with how the last two days have gone."

 Trulli, who left Renault with three races to go, also sounded upbeat.

 "The Toyota team gave me a splendid welcome and we've already started to work well together in our first day of testing," said the Italian.

 "It's still too early to judge the car. I've found some very good, positive aspects to the package while there are parts which can still be improved."

 In Jerez in southern Spain, Italian F3000 champion Vitantonio Liuzzi impressed the Sauber team -- Villeneuve's employers next season -- with his first test for them.

 "He coped with the driving and the different set-up possibilities astonishingly soon," said technical director Willy Rampf in a statement.

 "Overall I have to say that considering that it was just a one-day test, he managed this work really well."

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