Tim Slade completes first laps in S5000 at Symmons Plains ahead of Race Tasmania

Tim Slade completed more than 40 laps of testing at Symmons Plains in his first taste of S5000 before the opening round at Race Tasmania.

Tim Slade on track in Tasmania. (ARG)

The Supercars driver was impressed by his first laps in an open-wheeler in 15 years.

"The first thing I thought was how heavy the steering was, and I thought ‘shit! – how am I going to get through a 25-minute race!'" said Slade.

"At the time it was all pretty foreign and new."

"We’ve since improved the ergonomics with the steering wheel a little bit, so I don’t have forearm pump now, which is a plus!"

"It’s a really fun car to drive."

"You know, you got decent amount of power and I guess it probably is what I was expecting just from watching the cars previously and a bit of onboard."

"That actually isn’t that dissimilar to the supercar, I guess, with a decent amount of power and, you know, not a heap of grip and it moves around – It’s not just glued to the road."

"I enjoy the challenge of jumping in something different and trying to work it out."

Race Tasmania gets underway on Friday 11 February, with Saturday and Sunday sessions to be broadcast on Stan Sport and 9Gem.