Delighted Briscoe Debuts with Toyota

Formula One's latest rookie Ryan Briscoe was delighted with his first test for the Toyota team as he acclimatised himself with a Formula One car.

Australian Briscoe, 20, who is hoping to secure a permanent test driver role at Toyota, completed a test for the German-based team at the Paul Ricard circuit in France today (Monday).

"It's just great to drive the Toyota F1 car," said Sydney-based Briscoe who rose through international kart racing before progressing to Formula Renault in Italy this year. "The power, the brakes, the handling everything about an F1 car is just so impressive. This has been a great opportunity for me to get up to speed and get the feel of an F1 car."

Despite displaying impressive speed in the test, Briscoe is playing down reports that a test deal is already secured with Toyota, who will make their debut in Formula One next season.

Briton Allan McNish and Finn Mika Salo will spearhead the Toyota Grand Prix challenge, and Briscoe said he was simply testing for Toyota before the test ban comes into place from November 15 to January.

"Driving the F1 car is something I've always wanted to do, but it's all very low key at the moment, I'm just doing some laps before the test ban comes in later this week," Briscoe said.

Briscoe is expected to secure a drive in a Formula Three championship for next season, having won the Italian Formula Renault championship this year and the Formula Renault Eurocup Finals at Estoril in Portugal.