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Wednesday, 25th October 2006

Ten years after he asked Michael Schumacher for his autograph at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Ernesto Viso joined the seven-time world champion on track at Interlagos, as he made his Formula One debut during Friday's practice sessions with Spyker MF1.

Viso's appearance at Interlagos was only the second by a Venezuelan in the modern era of Formula One, following Johnny Cecotto's brief, injury-ended, spell in the top flight in the mid-Eighties. With the majority of race drives having already been allocated, he now hopes to maintain at least a toehold in the series, and remains in the frame for a role at Spyker, albeit along with others including current favourite Tiago Monteiro, Red Bull refugee Christian Klien, Colin Kolles protégé Adrian Sutil and highly-regarded Briton Gary Paffett.

"The goal now is to consolidate myself in F1," Viso confirmed, "We know that it will not be simple, but the opportunity exists. We are examining proposals that we have and, above all, are trying to include the back-up and investment of the Venezuelan businesses that have supported me so well."

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