Albers tests Minardi at Misano

The former Mercedes DTM star, who served as a Minardi test driver in 2001 and who has signed for the team to race in Formula 1 this season, completed 57 laps before a hydraulic problem caused the team to curtail the day's running. The session had already been delayed for most of the morning while Minardi waited for snow to clear and the mist to fade at the Italian track.

"The big change for me at this test compared with my last time here at Misano, in November, is that now I know I am going to be a Minardi race driver in 2005, and it feels great," said Albers. "I also know the team a lot better, as I have been spending a lot of time in Faenza training and preparing myself physically and mentally for the season ahead.

"Today we did some useful work and we have discovered a little bit more about the car. We struggled a little with the initial set-up, but the track and weather conditions were not great. I'm confident we'll make good progress as the test goes on. As usual, the team has done a great job today and the guys have put in maximum effort. The atmosphere is really good, and I feel right at home."

Superfund Euro F3000 champion Nicky Pastorelli was also scheduled to run, but will now participate in the test tomorrow because of the delays. He will joined by Isreali driver Chanoch Nissany.

"Regrettably, we didn't have the opportunity to run Nicky this afternoon as planned, but he will be the first driver in the car in the morning," said Minardi's team manager Massimo Rivola. "We were able to collect considerable useful data today regarding the 2005 car and tyres fro Bridgestone, and the initial results are certainly very encouraging."