Lewis Hamilton ended this week's Jerez test on a high note as the Briton powered his McLaren to the top of the timesheets.

The McLaren team were happy to bide their time over the previous three days of the rain-affected multi-team test as they concentrated on aero-mapping runs conducted at slower speeds.

But they took the shackles off the MP4-25 late on Saturday afternoon, allowing Hamilton to pump in a succession of hot laps and finish half a second clear of second-placed Adrian Sutil in the new Force India VJM03.

Hamilton's best lap of one minute 19.583 seconds was also the quickest of the four-day test, eclipsing Jaime Alguersuari's previous best mark by just under four-tenths.

After Friday's washout, the teams were grateful for the return to more clement weather and took advantage by committing to longer, heavy-fuel runs.

Hamilton was one of three drivers to pass a century of laps on Saturday, along with the Sauber of Pedro de la Rosa (150) and Ferrari's Felipe Massa, who amassed a mammoth 160 laps at the wheel of the F10.

Rubens Barrichello completed 90 tours on his way to third place for Williams but the veteran Brazilian saw his day cut short by a gearbox problem on the FW32.

Barrichello said: "We concentrated on set-ups today and completed 90 laps before we had the problem which the team are investigating now.

"The car has performed well these past two days and we've discovered some interesting things which will help us move it forward."

Robert Kubica underlined the steady progress made by Renault as he put up 85 laps on his way to a best time of 1min 20.358secs, good for fourth place.

Michael Schumacher was three-tenths further back in fifth place at the wheel of his Mercedes, and the seven-time champion was content with his efforts this week.

"We had a good day today to end this week's test programme," he said.

"The weather affected us a little in the early part of the day but we were able to use our time very effectively once we could run on dry tyres.

"We completed everything that we wanted and were able to increase our understanding of the car a step further so overall it's been positive."

The Red Bull Racing RB6 of Sebastian Vettel was sixth ahead of marathon man Massa, who racked up the equivalent of two grands prix distance for the Prancing Horse.

De La Rosa was next up for Sauber, ahead of Lucas Di Grassi, who lifted spirits in the Virgin Racing camp after the disappointments of the past three days as he completed 63 laps with a best time of 1:22.912.

Alguersuari, the pacesetter 24 hours earlier and the second-fastest man over the four days courtesy of his best time set in the dry on Friday, brought up the rear on Saturday with a quickest lap of 1:24.072 from his 98 laps.

The action continues at Jerez next week with another four-day test which gets under way on Wednesday.