Winkelhock MF1's test driver

MF1Racing, the Formula 1 team owned and operated by the Midland Group, is today pleased to announce that 25-year-old Markus Winkelhock will be one of the team's official test drivers for the 2006 season.

Winkelhock, son of the late Formula One and sports car driver Manfred Winkelhock, tested for MF1 Racing in Jerez in December and impressed Managing Director Colin Kolles with his talent and determination: "Markus showed true class in the test before Christmas. He was immediately at home in a Formula One car and he will be a big asset to our development programme this year."
As well as sharing testing duties with the team's race drivers, Stuttgart-based Winkelhock will also participate in Midland's Grand Prix Friday driver line-up.

After finishing third in the 2005 World Series by Renault, Markus Winkelhock said his first F1 test was: "an unforgettable experience. It gave me the hunger for more and this opportunity with Midland is fantastic for me. I know the team has a big development programme for the new MF1-Toyota M16 and I look forward to being constructively involved with it."