The AT&T Williams team’s newly appointed race driver, Nico Hulkenberg, commenced his winter physical training programme at the Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence yesterday.

Continuing his stay in Doha following a Formula One demonstration event at the Losail International Circuit on Thursday last week, Team Principal Sir Frank Williams joined Nico at the Doha-based sports academy to witness the world class facilities at first hand.

He commented, “The facilities at Aspire are remarkable and having seen them for myself, I fully understand why they are attracting elite athletes from around the world to base their warm-weather training here in Doha.

Formula One demands very specific physical preparation and our human performance team will derive plenty of support and expertise from Aspire in this important process.”

Having spent a week in Qatar for pre-season filming work at thee Losail Circuit, Nico Hulkenberg commented, “Qatar has so much to offer. Not only does Williams now have a permanent presence in the country with the Williams Technology Centre at QSTP, but the sporting facilities here at Losail and Aspire have meant that I can combine our filming activities with the first stage in my winter physical training programme.

I will follow a multi-disciplinary schedule of training and also have all of the additional resources including sports medicine and sports science to draw from while I am here. I can think of no better way to commence the countdown to the 2010 season start in Bahrain.”