Mansell, Teixeira test for Ultimate

Mansell, the 20-year-old son of 1992 world champion Nigel Mansell, arrived at the Norfolk venue on the back of an Atlantic Championship career best fifth place in the season finale at Road Atlanta, and was impressed by the Formula Renault 3.5 car's performance.

"I really enjoyed myself," he said. "It's a very powerful car that is extremely reactive to drive. It's the sort of car that definitely takes a while to master, but it is satisfying to try and learn it.

"In the morning we had full wet conditions and it was unbelievably slippery, but in the afternoon conditions became drier and we were able to push a bit. The most difficult thing to adjust to is probably the braking. I'm not used to the carbon brakes."

Teixeira has forged strong links with Ultimate having competed for the team in this season's British Formula 3 Championship. The Angolan is the ambassador of the team's 'staircase of talent' young driver Academy.

"I could have stayed in the car until midnight," said Teixeira. "The power of the World Series car is like night and day compared to Formula 3, but it didn't take me too long to get used to it. You have to be very careful how you apply the power but it really is an amazing car to drive."

Team boss Barry Walsh said: "Both Greg and Riccardo did very well in the World Series by Renault, and I would love to see them in our cars next year."

The test was, in part, to showcase Ultimate's Angolan backed Academy.

Ultimate-Signature's Formula Renault 3.5 regulars Fabio Carbone and Esteban Guerrieri also took to the track in the team's newly acquired Dallara Formula 3 cars. Brazilian Carbone has been linked to an F3 return at Macau, but no line-up has yet been confirmed.

Formula Renault Eurocup racer Tiago Petiz was also in action in the F3 car.