Davies flies in first test

The 25-year-old was fifth quickest out of 42 drivers in the final pre-season test before the first round of the F3000 International Championship at Imola this weekend. He was 0.3s off the quickest time set by West Competition's Nick Heidfeld.

'It felt great to be back in the car,' said Davies after the A1-Ring test. 'Although I had a brief run with the team in Spain recently, it was the first time I had driven in anger since the final round of the 1998 series.

'Everyone is really enthusiastic about the season ahead, I'm in good shape and I'm feeling confident.'

Team boss Peter Briggs said: 'We knew he would be quick and we are delighted by the way he has settled in so quickly.'

Heidfeld, runner-up to new Champ Car star Juan Pablo Montoya last year, was just 0.04s faster than Petrobras Junior Team driver Max Wilson.

Petrobras team director Paul Jackson said, 'It's going to be incredibly close. Max and Bruno [Janquiera, his team mate] are working really well together and it's great to appear that we are on the pace.

'But with only a couple of seconds separating almost 40 drivers, there is going to be absolutely no room for error.'