Alexander Wurz's lap of the Nurburgring.

McLaren-Mercedes test driver Alexander Wurz describes a lap of the Nurburgring - site of this weekend's European Grand Prix:

''The N?rburgring offers a variety of corners and straights making it an interesting circuit to drive and a favourite among many of the drivers. Along the short start-finish straight, you reach 185mph / 296 kph in sixth gear before braking hard for the sharp right-left flick of the Castrol S at the end of the straight, on the first lap this often creates a funnel effect with the field attempting to outbreak one another. Your speed drops to 85mph/ 136kph for the tight right-hand section and increases through the left-hander to 95mph / 152kph, both in third gear.''

''On the exit, you push hard on the throttle briefly reaching some 175mph / 280kph in fifth gear on the short straight that leads to the fast left of turn three, which is taken at 115mph / 185kph in third gear. A short burst on the throttle follows, reaching 125mph / 200kph in fourth gear before braking hard for the right-hand turn four, which is taken in second gear at 70mph / 112kph.''

''On the exit you accelerate up to 175mph / 280kph in sixth gear approaching the Dunlop Kehre hairpin, braking hard for the slowest corner on the track, which is taken at 60mph / 95kph in second gear. Accelerating out of the hairpin you reach 150mph / 240kph in fifth gear through the sweeping right-hander of turn six, pulling 3.3G, the greatest on the track.''

''Your speed continues to increase on the run into turn seven, reaching over 180mph / 290kph in sixth gear. The sharp left hand of turn seven is taken in third gear at 85mph / 136kph and, in a similar layout to turns three and four at the start of the circuit, is followed by a quick spurt of acceleration before slowing for the long right-hander of turn eight, which is taken at 100mph / 136kph in third gear.''

''It's here that you start climbing up the hill towards the back section of the track, a fast sweeping straight with a slight right hand kink, you reach 190mph / 300kph in seventh gear. At the end of this long stretch is one of the best overtaking opportunities on the circuit, as you drop from the top speed on the track down to 60mph / 96kph in second gear for the chicane.''

''On the exit you accelerate out reaching 140mph / 225kph in fourth gear on the approach to the final turn, the long right-hander taken at 75mph / 120kph in third gear leading you back onto the start-finish straight.''