BMW Sauber's Polish test driver Robert Kubica enjoyed a moment of glory with the quickest time in yesterday's low-key British Grand Prix free practice.

The Pole, who will not race tomorrow, lapped the Silverstone circuit in one minute 21.082 seconds on a sunny afternoon.

Austrian Alexander Wurz, another test driver, had been fastest in the morning for Cosworth-powered Williams in 1:21.946.

Only eight race drivers set timed laps in that first session and while the afternoon was livelier it was still the unsung reserves, with no worries about conserving engines for two races, who stood out.

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella, for champions Renault, spun but still ended up second-quickest ahead of Wurz and Honda's Anthony Davidson.

Toyota's unlucky Italian Jarno Trulli, who has yet to score a point this season, had a promising day with the fourth-best time in the morning and fifth in the afternoon.

Ferrari's seven times champion Michael Schumacher, in confident mood despite the furore he created in Monaco qualifying two weeks ago when he was stripped of pole for deliberately stopping on the track, was fifth and eighth respectively.

Renault's world champion Fernando Alonso was seventh quickest in the afternoon. The Spaniard, winner of four of the seven races so far, leads Schumacher by 21 points in the standings.

Coulthard refuses to dampen Ferrari link

David Coulthard fuelled speculation that he has been talking to Ferrari about the possibility of driving for them next season.

"It's inevitable that everyone has to know what the market place offers," the Scot told a British Grand Prix news conference this week when asked about media reports linking him to the former Formula One champions.

"From their side, they've got one driver scoring serious points and the other not.

"Any team needs to have two drivers in a position to capitalise and I didn't score over 500 points by accident.

"Everyone talks to everyone at this stage of the season."