The Williams F1 team took Venezuela by storm today as local hero, Pastor Maldonado, fired up the country with a demonstration run of the FW32 as a prelude to his F1 debut.

Following November's announcement confirming Maldonado's appointment as a Williams driver for 2011, Venezuela invited the team to visit the country to carry out the event.

This afternoon's run was staged in Caracas against one of the capital's most historic backdrops, Paseo de los Proceres, and in the presence of President Chavez.

Maldonado completed a number of laps of the improvised track, concluding the spectacle with a series of doughnuts to the delight of the crowds.

Organisers estimated 20,000 people witnessed today's landmark event, the first time a Venezuelan has driven a Formula One car in front of his crowd.

"It was unbelievable to share this experience with my countrymen," said Maldonado. "The amount of people that turned out to watch was just amazing. Los Proceres is a very important place so to drive a Formula One car there is special to me. I was also honoured to drive in front of our President, Mr Chavez. What a great way to start my season!"

"We've had an amazing day in Caracas," added Williams F1 chairman, Adam Parr, "with what looked like about 20,000 people in attendance. Los Proceres, a very important monument to the liberators of Venezuela, was a very dramatic setting for the event and we were honoured with the presence of a number of Ministers and, of course, President Chavez. Pastor did a great job, as did the team, and I think we gave the people of Caracas a taste of how exciting Formula One is."