Mike Conway second fastest in Paul Ricard GP2 test

16 March 2007

Pre-season GP2 Series testing concluded at Paul Ricard circuit in France today, with Mike Conway posting the second fastest lap time in the final session.

Conway's lap time of 1:09.860 was only pipped by a 1:09.713 second lap from Andreas Zuber, but Zuber used new tyres to top the timesheets while Conway's time was set on used rubber, the only driver of the field not to put on fresh tyres for the final run, which made his lap time even more impressive.

The only Brit in the GP2 Series this season, Conway ran strongly throughout the two day test. Finishing sixth quickest on the first morning and 11th in the afternoon, he worked together with his Super Nova team to fine tune his GP2 car for the start of the season next month. Today he was third fastest in the morning and improved to finish second quickest in the final afternoon of running.

Conway said of the test, "Yesterday we made good progress and throughout the whole test we had good balance with the car. Setting a P2 time today on used rubber while everyone else had new tyres was a good way to finish the test, and looking at our sector times we could have been P1.

It's a good position to be in after the final test before racing starts in Bahrain next month. We know we've got a good package, but we'll just have to wait for a few weeks before the real test starts, with the first two races in the Middle East, a new circuit for me."

The GP2 Series, with 10 rounds of racing action throughout Europe, plus the season-opener in Bahrain, Conway will contest his first year of the Series, which is acknowledged as a stepping stone to the pinnacle of motor racing, Formula One.

Conway has already established himself as a leading young British racing talent and recently signed an agreement with Honda Racing F1 Team, which includes testing with the F1 outfit later this year.