While most New Zealanders were sleeping, Wanganui's Earl Bamber was at the wheel of Black Beauty at Snetterton in the United Kingdom last night (NZ time).

He completed 68 laps for the team's final pre-season test session, prior to the first round of A1GP racing action scheduled for next weekend. Eighteen-year-old Bamber set a best lap time around the Norwich-based circuit of 57.6 seconds, 0.1sec faster than the official A1GP test car, which was also running on the day.

He put in a solid performance with tricky track conditions, which were constantly changing between wet and dry. The team were impressed with Bamber's composure as he man-handled the 600hp 'Powered by Ferrari' race car.

Team manager John Sears said Bamber had limited running on the track due to the conditions.

"Even with new tyres on Earl couldn't go flat out everywhere as the track still had damp patches in places. It would have been nice to have more dry track time."

Following the test, Bamber was enthusiastic about his first drive of the 'Powered by Ferrari' A1GP car. In particular, he noted the 'PowerBoost' button. This increases the power of the car for short bursts to provide more passing opportunities during races.

"Compared with the previous A1GP car I drove, the new package has much more torque and power," Bamber said.

His previous experience with New Zealand's A1GP team includes three rookie test sessions last season. This was his first chance as lead driver for the team.

Team owner Colin Giltrap has a positive outlook going into the season.

"Earl was very at home in the car today. These new cars are a wonderful piece of machinery."

Every race of the A1GP will feature at least one pit-stop, so part of the test saw the A1 Team New Zealand crew members practising their wheel changes. The pitstop practice was something new for Bamber, as his racing career has not previously included races featuring compulsory pit-stops.

Chris van der Drift drove Black Beauty at the first test of the new 'Powered by Ferrari' A1GP car. However his commitments to the European Formula Master championship which he currently leads rule him out of contention for driving New Zealand's car at Zandvoort, in the Netherlands.

An announcement of who will drive for A1 Team New Zealand next weekend for round one of this season's A1GP series will follow in the next few days.

There has been some speculation over the past week regarding the series' future. News confirming the stability of the championship is expected early next week.

However, from A1 Team New Zealand team's point of view, it's business as usual as it focuses on going one better than the second place result it has achieved in the past two seasons.