Viso lines up Arden test.

Venezuelan F3000 graduate Ernesto Viso has revealed that he has lined up two tests with multiple FIA series champions Arden International in the hope of joining its proposed GP2 campaign in 2005.

Viso, who stepped up from the British F3 Championship with the Durango team midway through the 2004 season, will run at Estoril between 26-27 October and Barcelona over 1-2 November, joining a number of other hopefuls all trying to catch the eye of Arden boss Christian Horner. The Venezuelan is hoping that his four point-scoring runs in six F3000 outings this year will go someway to impressing Horner, who insists that he will be looking to run a GP2 team whatever the outcome of his plans to move into Formula One next season.

"We are continuing to work very hard to sort a complete budget for next season," Viso said, "But we have arranged two tests with Arden towards the end of the month, and are maintaining contact with other teams that also are going to run in GP2 next season."

As well as sweet-talking possible sponsors, Viso has also continued to fulfil promotional obligations with Durango, the latest taking him to the Slovenian port of Portoroz, where he took part in a driving demonstration with a number of other F3000 drivers, as well as Sauber F1 star Giancarlo Fisichella.

He also tested with Carlin Motorsport's Formula Nissan team, primarily in an attempt to learn the Estoril layout on which his first Arden test will take place. However, the run also served a secondary purpose, given that team boss Trevor Carlin is also rumoured to be considering a possible involvement in GP2 next season.