Alonso leads final British GP practice

SILVERSTONE, England // The Renault driver Fernando Alonso was fastest on a track drying out following morning rain in Saturday's final British Grand Prix practice. The double world champion, a winner at Silverstone in 2006, went top with a lap of 1:20.740 seconds in a busy finish to the session as the sun came out and the track got steadily faster. The top slot changed hands repeatedly as drivers switched to dry tyres.

The Australian Mark Webber, in a Renault-powered Red Bull, was second quickest with McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen third and Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel fourth. Ferrari's championship-leading Brazilian driver Felipe Massa, who was fastest on Friday despite a heavy crash, languished in 12th place. BMW-Sauber's Robert Kubica, the Pole who is two points behind Massa after eight races, was 19th, while McLaren's home hope, Lewis Hamilton, was fifth.

Ferrari's world champion Kimi Raikkonen, winner at Silverstone last year, lapped ninth quickest. Hamilton, 10 points adrift of Massa after failing to score in his last two races, will be looking to repeat his 2007 pole position in qualifying later on Saturday. *Reuters