SILVERSTONE (England), July 4: World championship leader Felipe Massa spun off the track and hit a wall during Friday’s practice for the British Grand Prix and still set the fastest session time in his Ferrari.

The Brazilian driver, who leads by two points in the hotly contested Formula One championship, was already the fastest in the first practice with a time of 1 minute, 19.575 seconds.

His car spun around 180 degrees and he went into the safety wall backward, damaging the rear of his car. Massa climbed out after a few minutes and did not appear hurt. Race officials halted the session which had been going for just under an hour and it resumed 18 minutes later after the track had been cleared of oil and debris.

Massa is two points ahead of BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica in the championship race, five ahead of Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen and 10 in front of Hamilton.

Meanwhile, FIA president Max Mosley and Formula One Manufacturers boss Bernie Ecclestone announced on Friday that the British GP was moving from Silverstone to Donington Park in 2010.

Practice results:

1. Felipe Massa, Brazil, Ferrari, 1 minute, 19.575 seconds, 8 laps; 2. Heikki Kovalainen, Finland, McLaren, 1:19.587, 15; 3. Lewis Hamilton, Britain, McLaren, 1:19.623, 13; 4. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Ferrari, 1:19.948, 16; 5. Robert Kubica, Poland, BMW Sauber, 1:20.367, 11; 6. Fernando Alonso, Spain, Renault, 1:20.436, 7; 7. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Toro Rosso, 1:20.588, 18; 8. Nelson Piquet Jr., Brazil, Renault, 1:20.653, 16; 9, David Coulthard, Britain, Red Bull, 1:20.698, 16; 10. Nico Rosberg, Germany, Williams, 1:20.744, 27.—AP