Mercedes topped the timesheets for the second day running in the first pre-season test at Jerez with Nico Rosberg matching Michael Schumacher's achievement.
Schumacher shone at the Spanish circuit on Thursday and Rosberg picked up where he left off as he clocked 1:17.613 to give Mercedes' 2011 car the perfect send off.
Mercedes are not running on the final day of the opening test and the next time Rosberg will be on a track he will be sitting in their 2012 challenger but he looked in impressive form as he posted the best time of the day just before lunch.
Lotus' Romain Grosjean had been the early pace-setter before Rosberg came through but Grosjean managed to finish best of the rest, although his car stopped on the track just minutes before the end of the day's session.
World champion Sebastian Vettel took to the track for the first time and he emerged in third just ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren.
Toro Rosso's Jean Eric-Vergne was fifth with Sergio Perez sixth in the Sauber just ahead of Fernando Alonso, while Bruno Senna and Caterham's Giedo van der Garde were next up.
Jerez Testing - Day Three results
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m17.613s 118
2. Romain Grosjean Lotus 1m18.419s +0.806 117
3. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1m19.297s +1.684 96
4. Lewis Hamilton McLaren 1m19.464s +1.851 80
5. Jean Eric-Vergne Toro Rosso 1m19.734s +2.121 79
6. Sergio Perez Sauber 1m19.770s +2.157 48
7. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m20.412s +2.799 67
8. Bruno Senna Williams 1m21.293s +3.680 125
9. Giedo van der Garde Caterham 1m23.324s +5.711 74