With the 2006 season about to kick off, race fans will be hoping for a real humdinger of a day today, as their heroes get down to business. Sadly, they are in for a disappointment.

Thanks to rules which demand that engines last for two race weekends, and the presence of a number of third drivers, we are unlikely to see much of the F1 superstars today, instead we will be treated to lap after lap from the likes of Davidson, Wurz, Doornbos et al.

Think of today as the hors d'oeuvre, with the real feast getting underway tomorrow.

First out, as might have been expected, is Yuji Ide in the Super Aguri, he's followed by Jani, Winkelhock, Wurz and Kubica.

It is the WilliamsF1 tester who posts the first time of the season, crossing the line at 1:35.192. Moments later, the Austrian improves with a 1:35.079, however, this is soon eclipsed by Kubica in the BMW, who posts 1:34.692.

As Ide completes his second run, teammate Takuma Sato comes out At the second split the Japanese driver is already almost 7s down on Kubica. He subsequently opts to abort the lap.

Meanwhile, Kimi Raikkonen is the first of the 'leading' drivers to complete an installation lap.

With half an hour of the session completed, Kubica remains quickest, ahead of Wurz, Jani, Sato, Winkelhock and Ide.

Coulthard has completed an installation lap, as have Montoya, Alonso and Fisichella.

Kubica goes quickest in the first sector, then again the second. The Pole finally crosses the line at 1:33.577, having taken 1.115s off his previous best. Elsewhere, Doornbos locks up big time.

Winkelhock improves, but remains 5.7s off the pace, splitting the two Super Aguris of Sato and Ide.

As Winkelhock improves again, leapfrogging Sato, Kubica raises the benchmark ever higher, crossing the line at 1:33.526.

Jarno Trulli leaves the Toyota pits for his first practice lap of the season.

With twenty minutes remaining, there are still only seven times on the timesheet.

Trulli completes his installation lap as Ide completes the second sector 5.9s down on Kubica.

In the WilliamsF1 pit, Frank Williams watches impassively, as ever. Early days, but no doubt he'd be a little happier if it was Wurz heading Kubica by 1.553s, rather than the other way round.

Kubica is the busiest driver, having completed 14 laps, Wurz is on 12 and Ide 9.

Liuzzi is on track, as is Monteiro, while Michael Schumacher finally climbs into his Ferrari.

Wurz goes quickest in sector one, then again in sector two, taking 0.594s off Kubica's time. The Austrian crosses the line at 1:32.380 to go quickest by 1.14s. Meanwhile, Ide has a bit of a moment.

Ten minutes remain, and it's; Wurz, Kubica, Jani, Doornbos, Winkelhock, Sato, Monteiro and Ide.

Moments later, Liuzzi goes fourth (1:35.378) as Kubica goes quickest in sector one. Elsewhere Monteiro goes very, very wide.

Ralf Schumacher, Massa and Heidfeld are all on track, as Scott Speed goes sixth in the Toro Rosso. Albers goes seventh in the Midland.

Next time around, Speed gets it all wrong and spins, but is able to continue.

As Massa continues round, having completed his installation lap, teammate Michael Schumacher leaves the pits.

The Brazilian goes fifth (35.229), but then locks up heavily at the hairpin on his next lap.

Schumacher completes the first sector of his first flying lap in 30.1, going on to complete the second sector in 40.5. The German crosses the line at 1:33.831 to go third. Almost immediately however, he is bumped down by Raikkonen, who posts 1:33.388.

David Coulthard goes sixth (35.017), as Montoya goes eighth (35.127). Moments later the Colombian improves with a 34.887.

Klien goes fifth, as Kubica goes quickest in the first two sectors. The pole posts 1:32.170, as Schumacher improves with a 33.469, but remains fourth.