Giancarlo Fisichella will test the Renault R24 for the first time this Wednesday, and he’s raring to go!

Q: Giancarlo, you visited Enstone two weeks ago – what were your feelings then?

GF: It was quite an emotional day when I went back there for the first time, but everything went very smoothly. I did my seat fitting, and there were no problems at all getting comfortable in the car, and then met people around the factory. In fact, I left that evening even more excited about next year. I am looking forward to the challenge.

Q: You will begin testing for the team at Barcelona in just under three weeks: what will be your objectives?

GF: The sessions between now and Christmas will be about learning. We are using the old car so it is not my ultimate speed that will be important – it is about getting used to working with the team again, how I can drive the tyres and just understanding the whole package. There is a lot of work to do.

Q: How big a task will it be for you to adjust to the Michelin tyres?

GF: I think it will be quite a difficult element of our programme, to work out and understand their behaviour as well as testing the new specification tyres for 2005. It is another thing that I need to adapt to, but we have enough time this winter to get on top of it without any problems.

Q: What are your aims for the winter testing period?

GF: By the end of the winter, I want to be completely ready to evaluate the new car as soon as it starts running. We hope that it will be quick straight away and it will be important to get plenty of mileage on it and on the engine before the first race. That will be a demanding period for the entire team and I want to make sure I am fully prepared for it.