Wednesday May 24th, 2000

Brazilian teenager Antonio Pizzonia had an impressive debut test in a Formula One car with the Benetton team on Wednesday.

Benetton said that the 19-year-old from the Amazon region had completed 53 laps at Valencia's Ricardo Tormo track in eastern Spain and would continue on Thursday.

Pizzonia, who won the first two races of the British Formula Three championship this season, clocked the fifth fastest time of the day in one minute 17.83 seconds.

The Brazilian has been testing with Italian Giorgio Pantano for the vacant slot of Benetton test driver.

Pantano, who tested previously in the month as well, did 23 laps with a fastest time of one minute 18.11 seconds.

"Both have done a very competent job," said Benetton technical director Pat Symonds.

"Antonio Pizzonia has only run with us for one afternoon so far and will be running for a whole day tomorrow, but he settled in extremely quickly.

"He has adapted very well to the car, considering it was his first run in an F1 car and I am very impressed with him."