Putin test drives F1 car

RUSSIAN Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has taken a Formula One race car for a spin, reaching speeds of almost 240km/h.

Putin signed a deal last month with Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone to bring F1 racing to Russia, starting in 2014.

After receiving instructions, Putin climbed into the race car and drove off by himself along an empty road near St Petersburg, and declared his performance as good – “for the first time”.