03 February 2001

Brask Management star Giorgio Pantano has just completed a two day test with the West McLaren Mercedes F1team during their exclusive test at Jerez in Spain on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

Giorgio was extremely happy and complimentary with and of the car and the team: "The West McLaren Mercedes team were very professional and friendly. Their attention to detail and the effort they put in was an eye-opener in what effort goes into running a top team in F1".

The West McLaren Mecered say that Giorgio ran for nearly 90 laps, did an excellent job and was extremely focused and quick.

David Coulthard, Mika Hakkinen, Darren Turner and Alex Wurz were all present and Gary Paffett also had a run in the car as part of his prize for winning the 1999 McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award.

On Thursday and Friday of this week (1st and 2nd February) Giorgio has been conducting doing a shake down test in the International F3000 car with Astromega at Valencia. He set a searing pace, lapping under the previous best time of the last offical FIA test. Giorgio and the team are extremely pleased.