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Alonso pulls in the fans on Ferrari test debut

VALENCIA, Spain Spanish Formula One fans turned up in their tens of thousands on Wednesday to witness local hero and double world champion Fernando Alonso make his Ferrari test debut.

With traffic jams clogging the access roads to the Ricardo Tormo circuit in the morning, organisers expected some 30,000 spectators through the gates on the final day of the opening test of the season.

The weekday turnout compared with the 36,000 tickets sold over the entire weekend for last year’s poorly-attended Turkish Grand Prix.

Alonso, replacing Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen as Brazilian Felipe Massa’s team mate, carried out an installation lap before immediately setting the pace with the fastest time so far this week.

Going into the afternoon, the former Renault driver was comfortably the quickest on the track and lapping faster than world champion Jenson Button in the McLaren and Michael Schumacher’s Mercedes.

Testing times are inconclusive, however, with fuel tanks doubled in size due to the ban on refuelling during races this season and some cars undoubtedly running lighter than others.

Britain’s Button was also getting his first taste of the new McLaren after winning the title with Brawn GP, now Mercedes, last season.

The championship starts in Bahrain on March 14.