Jun.12 (GMM) Super Aguri refugee Anthony Davidson returned to the fast-lane on Thursday, as formula one testing kicked off at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya.

The 29-year-old Briton, who has remained on the sidelines ever since the demise of his former team five weeks ago, emerged from Honda's garage at the Spanish venue at the wheel of the works RA108.

Davidson, whose Honda-powered Super Aguri teammate Takuma Sato is also out of work, is filling in for Honda's regular test driver Alex Wurz, who is racing at Le Mans this weekend.

Davidson's association with the Brackley based team stretches back to 2002, when the Honda-powered squad was known as BAR.

It emerges that the diminutive driver also conducted some straightline aerodynamic testing in the RA108 prior to the recent Monaco grand prix.

Race driver Rubens Barrichello will take over his car at Barcelona on Friday.

Every team except Force India will run this week over three days at the Spanish grand prix venue, which is located at Montmelo, just north of Barcelona.

Thursday at the circuit dawned dry, but contrary to some forecasts, the three day test is not likely to be affected by rain.