First test for Sauber's Jani

Team Sauber Petronas' new test driver Neel Jani (19) has gained his first Formula One driving experience today (April 22) on a test track in the Italian Vairano near Milan. The Swiss rookie talent had the opportunity to familiarise himself with the Sauber Petronas C22 and its electronic systems in a so-called straight-line test for aerodynamic measurements.

"The acceleration of this car is just marvellous!", Neel Jani says, expressing his feelings after his debut in a Formula One car. "It has been the first time for me that I drove faster than 300 km/h and this is an experience of its own", he continues. "It is definetely completely different to what I have known so far. The work with the engineers and mechanics, the set-up of the car and the test programme itself prove the expected level of this class. You simply can not compare the standard of Formula One with any other series."

"I also feel very comfortable with the crew since the team Sauber Petronas is a particularly familiar, friendly one and has given me a warm welcome. For the near future I want to do as many test sessions as possible and then we will see what comes up."

"Neel has done a solid job today, but that's what I have expected from a talented driver like him. You could already see a good development in the first runs and this is a certain basis for his career", says Team Manager Beat Zehnder.

Later this year Jani will conduct further test sessions for the team Sauber Petronas. This year he is contesting in the international Formula Renault V6 in the team of Andreas Jenzer. Jani won the first two races in Barcelona a little more than two weeks ago.

-sauber-