BMW Sauber suspends testing at Jerez after mechanic picks up minor injuries.

A mechanic with BMW Sauber has escaped with minor injuries after suffering an electric shock as the team started testing its Kinetic Energy Recovery System on the first day of Formula 1 testing at Jerez.

Test driver Christian Klein was sent out to complete a three-lap installation run with the KERS device in place before returning to the pits.

As the car came to a halt, mechanics moved forward towards the car but the first member of the team to touch the sidepod received an electric shock which saw him fall to the ground.

After being helped to his feet by fellow team members, the mechanic was taken to the circuit medical centre before being released with slight injuries and grazing to his left hand and arm.

"During testing of the KERS car at the Jerez track this morning, there was an incident involving a mechanic," a team spokesman was quoted by ITV-F1. "When the car returned to the pits, he touched it and suffered an electric shock.

"He sustained slight injuries to his left hand and grazing on his left arm. After a brief examination at the track's medical centre, he has returned to the test team."

The team has suspended its running while it investigates the incident, which is the second in a week involving the KERS system after Red Bull was forced to evacuate its Milton Keynes factory last Wednesday after a fire scare during a battery test.