Returning 2007 F1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen declared himself "very positive" with his progress after successfully completing his comeback test in a Formula One car at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia this week.
Raikkonen completed two full days of running at the Valencia track for the Lotus squad, as he prepares to return to the F1 grid in 2012.
The Finn drove a two-year old Renault R30 at the test, in accordance with F1's current testing restrictions.
The team confirmed that Raikkonen racked up some 171 laps over the course of the two days, testing on Pirelli's 'demo' spec rubber.
And after the conclusion of the test, Raikkonen said that overall he had found the test a positive move as he prepares for his comeback.
"It went well today and overall the two days have been helped me a lot," he rambled after his second day in the car.
"Even though I was using a two year-old car and the Pirelli demonstration tyres, I learnt about working with the team and the engineers which means I can focus on the new car once we get to Jerez for the first official test."
He added: "It was great to be driving an F1 car again and from that respect I feel very positive."
Alan Permane, the Lotus team's trackside operations chief, added: "We enjoyed another good day with Kimi in Valencia. The morning was spent doing set-up work in particular with front and rear cambers.
"In the afternoon we ran very low fuel qualifying simulations with two new sets of tyres followed by a 27 lap run starting with a full tank of fuel."
He went on: "Kimi's pace improved from yesterday as we would expect and we completed several start, pitstop and clutch simulations.
"We were even able to finish early as we completed our programme ahead of time. Overall it has been a productive and valuable two days."
Raikkonen will be the first Lotus driver to try out the team's newest car, when he drives on the first two days of the first official pre-season test beginning in Jerez on February 7th.
The new Lotus car, as yet unnamed, will be launched on February 5th.
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