AS THRILLING AS Formula One
Speed thrills for professional tennis players – Ferrero, Nalbandian and Srichaphan join Mercedes McLaren test driver de la Rosa in an SLR – "An incredible experience "
First pleasure and then work: Three of the world's best tennis players from three different continents experienced the thrills accompanying very high speeds in the co-driver's seat of a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. "It was an incredible and unforgettable experience. A pure rush of adrenalin," said the local Spanish hero, Juan Carlos Ferrero, after doing two laps with Mercedes McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa. And just like Ferrero, both Argentine's top player, David Nalbandian, and Asia's best tennis professional Paradorn Srichaphan felt very safe in the black racer with 626 horse power under its bonnet.
"Pedro is an extremely skilful driver. I did not feel at all frightened although the speed was really very extreme," commented Nalbandian, who is No.10 in the Champions Race 2004 at the moment, "I was absolutely impressed just how well the car could be controlled despite such an extremely high speed." The 2002 Wimbledon finalist returned the favor later by giving the Spanish racing driver a bit of tennis practice at the Pabellon de Cristal, the venue of the Madrid Masters tournament.
After the trip to the former Formula One track in Jarama, Thailand's national hero, Srichaphan, declared that he felt the experience was like "venturing into a new dimension of speed" and added, "Never in my whole life have I driven a car myself or been driven at such a speed before." But in spite of this he remained "calm and relaxed," said the top professional, who in the meantime is the proud possessor of diplomatic passport given to him by the King of Thailand. Just like Ferrero and Nalbandian, Srichaphan made the most of being at the course close to Madrid and used the opportunity to drive a few laps round the course himself in a Mercedes-Benz C55 AMG. "But in comparison with Pedro, I probably looked more like a snail," said Srichaphan.
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