Formula Renault 3.5 championship leader Mikhail Aleshin had a run in a 2009 Renault R29 Formula 1 car at Magny-Cours today. The Russian was given the opportunity as a reward for leading the FR3.5 standings at the midway point of the season.
He will demonstrate the car during this weekend's World Series by Renault meeting at the former French Grand Prix venue, and had his first opportunity to try it during the lunch break in today's FR3.5 test.
"I did between 10 and 15 laps, and I felt I got used to the car as much as I could have done in the time I had," said Aleshin. "The engineer told me I was the fastest learner they had ever had.
"The lines I used were similar to those from the Formula Renault 3.5 car, but you can be more confident with [the R29]. The track was quite dry, but a little bit dirty, so you needed to know how hard to go on the brakes. Perhaps there will be some reaction in Russia after I have done the proper run tomorrow, but I hope to get the most notice this weekend from my results in the races."
Aleshin went on to set the fastest time in the day's FR3.5 test. The Carlin driver currently leads the championship by three points over Red Bull F1 reserve Daniel Ricciardo.