Renault's Fernando Alonso set the pace in final practice at the British Grand Prix as McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen again trumped team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

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Kovalainen, who beat Hamilton in both sessions on Friday, was third fastest with Hamilton down in fifth place.

Hamilton was on the harder, and slightly slower, of the two tyres.

All the drivers ahead of him used the softer "option" tyres to set their fastest times.

Ferrari did not feature prominently in the session, with world champion Kimi Raikkonen ending it ninth fastest and team-mate Felipe Massa, who is leading this year's title chase, 12th.

David Coulthard, who is racing in his final British Grand Prix having announced he will retire at the end of the season, managed only six laps in the session.

The changing conditions ensured lap times tumbled throughout the hour-long session, but Alonso was at the sharp end whenever he was out on the track.

But the double world champion is unlikely to be a major feature in the race unless it is wet - and the forecast is for unsettled weather for the rest of the weekend.

And although the Ferrari drivers did not figure prominently in the final list of times, both men were quick when they were out on the track at various stages throughout the session.

British GP final practice:

1. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault one minute 20.740 seconds
2. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull 1:20.988
3. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) McLaren 1:21.266
4. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Toro Rosso 1:21.277
5. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren 1:21.668
6. Nelson Piquet Jr (Bra) Renault 1:21.786
7. Sebastien Bourdais (Fra) Toro Rosso 1:22.059
8. Timo Glock (Ger) Toyota 1:22.183
9. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:22.355
10. Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Honda 1:22.387
11. Jenson Button (GB) Honda 1:22.440
12. Felipe Massa (Bra) Ferrari 1:22.461
13. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams 1:22.544
14. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 1:22.556
15. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 1:22.916
16. Kazuki Nakajima (Jap) Williams 1:23.028
17. Adrian Sutil (Ger) Force India 1:23.049
18. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Force India 1:23.112
19. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 1:23.282
20. David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull 1:32.119

(BBC)

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