MARCH 14, 2004

Alesi to drive Mercedes W196 in Bahrain

Jean Alesi is to demonstrate Juan Manuel Fangio's 1955 Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 car at the formal opening of the new circuit on the Wednesday. The car took Fangio to two World Championship titles in 1954 and 1955.

Alesi has been racing for Mercedes-Benz in the German Touring Car Championship since leaving F1 at the end of 2001 after a long career with Tyrrell, Ferrari, Benetton, Sauber, Prost and Jordan.