by Russell Atkins

Oliver Jarvis is confident he could step into a Formula 1 car and be immediately on the pace, after enjoying his first taste of grand prix action courtesy of McLaren-Mercedes at Silverstone.

The F3 and A1GP front-runner was awarded the opportunity to step into one of the Woking outfit's 2006-spec MP4-21 machines as a prize for clinching the prestigious McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year award back in 2005. He was joined by Mercedes DTM star Paul di Resta, the recipient of the accolade the previous year, and it was an experience that has clearly whetted Jarvis' appetite for more.

“It was fantastic,” the 23-year-old enthused, speaking after the test to Crash.net. “I was very excited beforehand, but you never quite know what to expect until you get there. I was really looking forward to it, but at the same time I didn't want to think too much about it. It was something I've always dreamed about, so I didn't want to get too nervous.

“The track was quite damp at first so we waited a couple of hours for it to dry out, then Pedro de la Rosa jumped in the car for an installation run to check everything was ok and the tyres were right for the conditions.

“When I pulled out of the pit-lane for the first time the acceleration was just incredible. It was the first time I've ever driven a Formula 1 car, but hopefully it won't be the last.”

After completing 20 laps of the National circuit, Jarvis said it was not so much the braking that had struck him, as the acceleration of the 2.4-litre, V8 Mercedes-Benz powerplant.

“The day allowed us to appreciate and get a feel for what an F1 car is really all about,” he underlined. “I didn't find it that difficult to adapt to everything, but one of the things you do need to get your head around – although of course it will disappear next year – is that you can just jump on the throttle and the computer will sort it all out. As a driver that goes completely against everything I've ever done through all the junior formulae. You have to re-teach your brain.

“The braking was fantastic – you can certainly hit the brakes very hard and the car just stops immediately – but what's even more impressive is the acceleration. You pull out of the pit-lane and go up through the gears from first to seventh in the space of seconds.

“It wasn't about the times – though as a racing driver you've always got your eye on them – but one thing it has made me realise is I now feel I could jump in an F1 car and do a good job. I would love that opportunity, but at the moment they are few and far between. I'm just going to keep pushing as hard as I can and see what comes my way.”