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Battistini, Viso complete Minardi test

Britain's Dillon Battistini and GP2 ace Ernesto Viso completed a two-day test with Minardi Team USA on Tuesday at Sebring, after which team co-owner Keith Wiggins declared that both had performed 'very respectably'

Wiggins said: "Obviously their level of previous experience means it would be unfair to compare lap times, but considering the experience of each, they did a sound job and we'd be interested in trying them out again.

"Ernesto turned some very competitive times over the course of the two days. He worked very well with all the crew, and we were all very impressed with his on and off-track conduct.

"I was also impressed with Dillon with his professional approach and feedback. It was more of a jump for him from F3 but he definitely proved that with enough time in the car he'll be a good addition to the Champ Car World Series."

Battistini, who won the Asia Pacific Formula Three championship this year said: "It was fantastic. I went 1.5 seconds quicker today than I did yesterday, and I think that was only 0.5 seconds off what Robert Doornbos and Dan Clarke [Minardi's 2007 race drivers] did on their last test here.

"I think the brakes, the power and the downforce are fantastic, but I think the improvement was down to being able to visualise which way the track went and also just knowing better what to expect from the car.

"Physically I didn't find it too hard. There was a track we raced at in Asia Pacific F3 at Batangas in the Philippines which is incredibly physical, both in terms of layout and because of the humidity and heat. The conditions here in Sebring were much better.

"Yesterday my arms were tired because this Sebring layout doesn't give you any real straights. They're long curves, and with the downforce these cars produce, you're turning gently, but flat out!

"But I think I did 70 laps yesterday and 65 laps today, so I was okay. I was working with Michael Cannon [Doornbos' engineer this season] which was brilliant. He said my feedback was good, so overall I think I made a good impression."

Viso, whose unofficial fastest time around the 1.669-mile course was said to be 51.4 seconds, stated: "I am very happy with the two days of testing with Minardi Team USA, and I feel we had a very productive test.

"I got to know the car, and I gained a better understanding of the behaviour of this chassis. It is different from what I am used to, but I figured it out pretty quickly. I think we turned some competitive lap times and I believe even faster than in the previous tests.

"We worked on a lot of set-up changes, and I hope my feedback has helped the engineers."

Will Phillips, Clarke's engineer this year, said: "I have to say I was very impressed with Ernesto. He did a very professional job, his feedback was very good and he was fun to be around.

"Like Dillon, Ernesto got a lot quicker today. I think he had just been making sure he didn't do anything silly under braking yesterday. Today he was a lot more confident, and he really showed well.

"What I'm impressed with is how quickly he adapted to the car so that we were able to start making adjustments that particularly suited him. If he learns circuits and how to fuel-save as quickly as that, then I think he would be a very strong candidate for Rookie of the Year next season."

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