Putin moves up a gear - as Formula 1 driver

MOSCOW - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin tried his hand driving a Formula 1 racing car Sunday.

The 58-year-old head of government touched speeds of 240 km per hour in the yellow Renault he nursed around a special track in the Leningrad region in Russia’s northwest.

Before getting into the car, the premier put on a helmet with Russia’s double eagle national emblem and the word Russia inscribed on it. He also wore a Formula 1 outfit bearing his initials.

A lover of fast cars, Putin last month attended a signing ceremony for an agreement that will see Russia host a Formula One Grand Prix between 2014 and 2020.

Putin has also been photographed as a bomber pilot and a leather-clad biker. His public relations strategists have also portrayed him as an environmentalist protecting the rights of tigers, polar bears and whales.

Some analysts suspect Putin is putting himself in the limelight in order to have another crack at the presidency.