Sainz drives Renault F1 car - and loves it.

Double World Rally champion, Carlos Sainz got his first 'proper' taste of the Renault R25 F1 car this weekend, and the Spaniard was left 'amazed' by the whole experience.

Sainz, who conducted a 'secret' shakedown test at Silverstone earlier this month on October 19, to familiarise himself with the car, did a number of demo runs throughout the weekend, as part of the bill for the final round of the World Series by Renault at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya.

Sainz, who like out-going Renault number one driver, Fernando Alonso, is a double world champion, having taken the WRC title in 1990 and 1992, was left bowled over by the whole experience: "The acceleration, the braking, the grip, everything is amazing in this car," he told the official Renault F1 website www.renaultf1.com, after his first run on Saturday in 'Monaco like' high down force configuration.

"I have just been testing in Tunisia for the Dakar Rally, so going from desert driving to a Formula 1 car is a pretty big change! They are totally different - light years apart in fact. In Formula 1, you need to be a top athlete because the whole body is under duress."

Sainz did one run on Saturday at about 4.10 pm, before doing two more on Sunday, one at around 9.55 am and a final blast at 3.20pm. By then he was left almost speechless.

"It is has been a unique experience, almost impossible to describe, and unlike anything I have felt before. I have been in a fighter plane, I have ridden a 500cc GP bike, but this is something else again," he concluded. "Renault has given me one of the best experiences of my life."