Prior to the serious business starting this Friday Formula One, and in particular the BMW WilliamsF1 team, took the opportunity to give the fans and close-up view of the cars and drivers.

With a crowd of 150,000 fans lining the streets three Formula One cars took turns completing a specially laid out course around some of Melbourne's landmarks. BMW WilliamsF1 driver Mark Webber toured the streets in an open-topped BMW, waving to the crowd.

Webber spoke of the occasion by saying: ”It was fantastic to see everyone out there enjoying Formula One so close up, really smelling it and feeling it. The drivers looked like they had a ball. It was great to get close to everyone and really feel the spirit, that’s what it was all about."

While Webber's drive around the track was sedate team test driver Antonio Pizzonia would drive a FW26 around the same track but showing off his car to the crowd by performing burnt outs leaving great plums of smoke. "My job here is to have fun!" said Pizzonia. "It was nice seeing the nature and Melbourne’s buildings while driving, it was quite special."

Joining the BMW WilliamsF1 drivers was a Minardi, with team boss Paul Stoddart driving round in a BMW X5 waving to the crowd.

Stoddart said: "I think everyone is going to have fantastic memories of a spectacular event. I was so impressed by the crowd: they were very supportive, and they should be very proud of this city. Melbourne is without a doubt the best Grand Prix in the world."

The event was very similar to that done in London last year and far more entertaining that the event in Sydney that would see Mark Webber cross a deserted Sydney Harbour Bridge.