Three-day development GP2 test session opened in bad weather  in Jerez, Spain

Seven-time  Formula  One  World  Champion  Michael  Schumacher  returned  to  a  racing  machine cockpit  yesterday  at  the  wheel  of  the  GP2  Series  development  car  at  Jerez  for  a  three-day  testing programme that aims at defining technical solutions for the Series’ next generation car which will be introduced in the 2011 season.

In difficult conditions due to heavy rain and wind, the Mercedes GP driver completed 52 laps today. Although the morning session started in dry conditions and under grey skies, the rain soon came and upset the programme of the day. The weather conditions worsened in the afternoon and the session had to stop earlier than scheduled.

Michael Schumacher said: “The day today was good especially because after a long time I could drive again in a car that came almost close to a current Formula 1. Despite the weather not being what we all would have liked all my senses were nevertheless on full alert - this alone was worth it. I felt comfortable out on the track from the very beginning, and naturally I'd like to thank our Team and the GP2 series very much for the opportunity to drive.”

GP2 Series Technical director Didier Perrin said: “It is unfortunate that the weather conditions were far  from  optimal  today.  Still,  Michael  could  get  a  good  first  taste  of  our  car  and  has  already managed to analyse the performance and behaviour of current car. Tomorrow, we hope for better weather  and  a  dryer  track  which  should  allow  us  to  move  along  with  our  programme  and  start working together on set up solutions for 2011.” The development test session will resume this morning.