Venezuelan demo for Maldonado
Venezuela's Pastor Maldonado, proud to be the newest member of the Williams F1 team, hopes to drive in front of the country's president next week.
The 25-year-old is replacing Germany's Nico Hülkenberg at Williams this season, making him only the second Venezuelan to compete at the highest level in motorsport.
To mark the appointment, a special demonstration event is being held just outside Caracas on 14 January with Maldonado at the wheel of the 2010 Williams Cosworth FW32.
A capacity crowd is expected to include the country's president Hugo Chavez. The firebrand socialist leader and Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA have been major supporters of the young driver.
"The idea is to get all the Venezuelan people there to show them what the 2011 season will be like," Maldonado said.
Team boss Frank Williams added: "Away from the race track, we have demonstrated our cars in many prestigious locations around the world.
"It is always a pleasure to do so and a privilege to share with the public the sheer power of a Formula One car. We are therefore delighted that Pastor has invited us to Venezuela and for him to be driving our car in his home country."
Maldonado, who notched up a record six successive victories last year on his way to the GP2 title, said: "I'm so happy the team is coming to Venezuela. To be given the opportunity of driving a Formula One car in front of my fellow countrymen is going to be something very special."
When F1 resumes in March, Maldonado and new team mate Rubens Barrichello will be hoping to be competitive enough to take the title from Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull.
"It is an honour to have Barrichello as a team-mate. He is the most experienced driver in Formula One," said Maldonado.
His Venezuelan compatriot Johnny Cecotto started 18 F1 races in 1983-84, a year before the new Williams driver was born.
Maldonado began his motorsport career in kart racing aged seven and had his first Formula One experience in 2004 when he tested for the Minardi team in the off-season.
Credit: PlanetF1.com (www.planetf1.com)
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