Schumacher GP2 Test Begins in Jerez, Pics

Following recent reports that Michael Schumacher will test a GP2 machinery at Jerez during the course of this week, the Formula One feeder series issued a short press release in which it reveals that the 41-year old German will in fact drive a development GP2 car to be used in the series from 2011 onwards.

According to the series organizer Bruno Michel, this is a great opportunity to benefit from the input of a 7-time world champion in evaluating several suspension configurations to be used on the 2011 GP2 Series car.

“Today’s test marks a milestone for the GP2 Series. It is an honour and a privilege for us to have seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher help us to develop our car. (...) Michael’s input and advice will be invaluable. I am confident that his knowledge and unparalleled driving skills will help us to develop a great car for next season,” said Michel

Aside from that, of course, the test is also used by Schumacher to get into shape for the first official F1 test of the off-season, scheduled for Valencia on February 1st. In fact, the German already completed the morning session of this test as we write this article, after doing a few laps on the Jerez track.

Schu used the morning session as a warm up, since he will stay at Jerez for the upcoming 3 days in order to fully test the GP2 development car. This is the first time the German driver stepped into a single-seater since testing a Ferrari F2007 back in the summer of 2009, when preparing to replace injured Felipe Massa in the Scuderia lineup.