Hamilton's McLaren dream one step nearer reality.

"This year just seems to be getting better and better" - that was Lewis Hamilton's appraisal at the end of his first official day of testing behind the wheel of a McLaren Formula One car. Should the team select the young Brit to drive for them in 2007, next year will surely be even better still.

Although the newly-crowned GP2 champion completed only a handful of shakedown tours at Silverstone today, that was still enough to whet his appetite for more and set him up for his first flying laps in the car on Wednesday and Thursday.

"It was just a phenomenal feeling to get in the car," he said at the end of the first day. "I was fairly relaxed this morning, and as soon as you get out onto the track you know what to do.

"Even though it was only a shakedown, being in my own kit and knowing my season was out of the way so I could just focus on this really helped me enjoy it."

The 21-year old has been nurtured by McLaren for a number of years, and said his first proper test in one of the silver cars was like a dream come true.

"Every time they start up the car I can't help but smile," he admitted. "I keep trying to stay serious but I end up with a big grin on my face every time. I'm living my dream."

Hamilton found out he would be testing only last week, and said though he was surprised he felt more than ready for the challenge.

"I was training down at McLaren and they said you can test next week," he said. "I was extremely happy about it - I didn't expect to be able to test just ten days after winning the GP2 championship. This year just seems to be getting better and better."

As to his approach to the test, Lewis said he would simply be taking everything one step at a time and learning as he went along.

"I'm just building myself up, getting back into the swing of driving the car and being comfortable with the controls and the way the team works," he said. "It feels very natural.

"There's a huge difference in power compared to GP2, and it's quite surprising how different the two V8s are. The McLaren is a lot more stable through the fast corners while in the GP2 machine as you accelerate you are using lower revs, but in terms of driving style I think the two are quite similar.

"I don't think these tests are being analysed or they'll say 'if you do better than Pedro [de la Rosa], you'll get the seat'. It's just to give me a bit of a taster. Pedro has had thousands of miles in the McLaren and there's no substitute for time in the car."

Although he refused to be drawn on where the test might lead, Hamilton clearly sees it as the start of something big, with the carrot of a Formula One testing contract - or maybe even race seat - dangling tantalisingly beneath his nose.

"After winning the GP2 championship, I made sure I celebrated in style," he added. "It didn't really sink in for another couple of days. It was only the week after I started to realise just what I've achieved this year. My family are extremely proud too which makes me very happy - but this test tops everything.

"I think I've proved my point, especially this year in GP2. I'm not going to put pressure on myself to go out there and be quick straightaway. I'm just going to slowly get up to speed and learn as much as I can from Pedro. It's been a long hard journey to finally get here, and I think I've deserved it."