Minardi completes first round of rookie tests.

The fourth day of Minardi's week-long test at Misano saw the Faenza team complete the final stages of its first driver test and evaluation programme of the winter, with promising young Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado and the slightly more experienced Christijan Albers both in action.

The fourth day of Minardi's week-long test at Misano saw the Faenza team complete the final stages of its first driver test and evaluation programme of the winter, with promising young Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado and the slightly more experienced Christijan Albers both in action.

After a 'day off' while the F1x2 programme entertained selected guests with laps of the Autodromo Santamonica circuit, the race team returned to action on Thursday morning by giving Formula Renault graduate Maldonado his first taste of Formula One power. The Venezuelan performed impressively, quickly acclimatising to the performance of the Cosworth-powered PS04B and steadily reducing his lap times until he achieved a fastest lap of 1min 11.330secs. The time compared well to fellow F1 rookies Patrick Friesacher, Will Power and Will Davison, who all stepped up from more powerful machinery with Minardi earlier in the week.

"I'm really impressed," Maldonado admitted, having completed 22 laps of the Misano track, "This is my first time in a Formula One car, and I just didn't expect such power. This year, I have been driving a much smaller, less powerful, car in Formula Renault 2000 and, although I have also tested an F3000 car, the F1 car is something completely different. It's amazing!

"Personally, I'm very happy to be here today, because F1 has always been my objective, as it is the dream of all racing drivers. I think I did a good job this morning, and I feel satisfied with my work."

DTM star Albers rounded out the week's 'rookie' crop, although the Dutchman has had previous testing experience with Minardi, as well as driving its two-seater 'show cars'. As expected, the Mercedes saloon car pilot was quickly up to speed, producing laps in the 1min 11secs bracket before setting the fastest lap of the day - and the week to date - by dipping down to 1min 10.800secs.

"Firstly, I want to thank Paul Stoddart for giving me the chance to drive the Minardi," the Dutch youngster commented, having been offered a late chance to join the test, "I have become accustomed to touring cars in the DTM, so it's good to be back in a Formula One car, although they remain physically demanding to drive - I can feel it in my neck even now!

"The team worked really well, but as only eight out of the 20 laps I did were flying laps, there was not a lot of set-up time. My main aim this morning was to show the speed I am capable of and what I can do in the car. I know I could have gone quicker but, considering the number of laps, I think the time wasn't too bad."

"It has been a very productive day," agreed team manager Giancarlo Minardi, "We have seen a young Venezuelan driver, Pastor Maldonado, who put in a very good performance, especially considering that he has made the considerable jump from Formula Renault to Formula One. Christijan Albers also put in a very good performance today and, considering how different from one another the drivers we have had here are, I think it has been a really interesting week.

"We are satisfied that all of the drivers who have driven a Minardi this week have produced extremely good laps times at a very high level. This means the car is relatively easy to learn and drive. Now we will work with these drivers, and hopefully, one of them will have a future in Formula One."

The F1x2 cars return to the track today [Friday], with Jos Verstappen, Nicolas Kiesa and Zsolt Baumgartner among those scheduled to drive on what will be the programme's penultimate outing of the year.

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