After returning from the German Grand Prix held in Hockenheim last weekend, the Honda Racing F1 Team today commenced a four-day test at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain.

Test and Reserve Driver Alex Wurz was at the wheel of the Honda RA108 to begin the test programme and will continue his driving duties tomorrow before the team's race drivers Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button take over on Thursday and Friday respectively.

This week's test sees an intense programme of activity focusing on the final stage of the team's mid-season aerodynamic upgrade, the evaluation of a new rear suspension system and further running of the Bridgestone slick tyres which will be used in the 2009 season.

Wurz's programme today concentrated on an evaluation of the new rear suspension, alongside running the aero upgrade for the Hungarian Grand Prix, as he completed 84 laps over the course of the day and signed the eighth-best time.

Alex Wurz will continue his running tomorrow when the focus switches to the evaluation of the 2009 tyres.

Weather conditions in Jerez are predicted to be extremely hot throughout the test. Today, the lunchtime ambient temperature was reaching 33°C with track temperatures of 50°C.