 Alesi drove a 1954 Mercedes F1 car on the new Bahrain track |
Spaniard Marc Gene described the new Bahrain circuit as "challenging" on Wednesday after becoming the first man to drive a Formula One car on it. Gene, Williams' test and reserve driver, drove one of the team's 2003 cars on the new �83m 3.3-mile track, which hosts a Grand Prix on 4 April.
"It's a world-class track, I really enjoyed driving it," Gene said.
"It's going to be a challenging Grand Prix here and we just might see one of the best Formula One races ever."
Former Grand Prix driver Jean Alesi also drove the Bahrain track, which was opened by the country's king, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
Alesi lapped in a Mercedes sports car and a 1954 Mercedes F1 car.
"This track is going to make many F1 hosts cry. It's so modern and so beautiful," he said. "This track asks for longer, heavier braking around the bends, and there will be good opportunities for overtaking."
The track is located in Sakhir, 20 miles southwest of the capital, Manama.
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