(Lotus F1 Team)
The Lotus F1 Team have confirmed that Esteban Ocan who is part of the of their Young Driver Programme will take part in a two day test for the Enstone based outfit from October 22nd and 23rd in the Lotus E20 that Kimi Raikkonen drove to victory at the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo.
18 year old Ocan is currently racing in the FIA Formula 3 world championship, a Series which has just taken victory in during his rookie season with three rounds remaining this season and has beaten new Toro Rosso signing Max Verstappen who is second in the championship standings.
The test with the Lotus F1 Team is his reward for winning the championship. Ocan has been part of the Lotus F1 Team's Young Driver Programme since 2010 and speaking about the news, the Frenchman stated:
'I would like to thank Lotus F1 Team and Gravity Management for this superb opportunity. The support and back-up I have been given since 2011 has enabled me to win the FIA Formula 3 Championship against some strong competition and I can’t wait to get started on the next step of my training.
To drive a Formula 1 car has always been a dream of mine, so I can’t wait to get started.'
Lotus F1 Team chairman and team principal Gerard Lopez commented on the news by saying:
'Esteban is a tremendous talent for the future. He has shown himself to be a superb driver as part of our Lotus F1 Team Junior programme, we are proud of him and he truly deserves to be given every opportunity to take his career to the next level.
To that end he will start testing in the Lotus F1 Team simulator at Enstone this week ahead of driving the E20 at Valencia later this month.'
The Lotus F1 Team's Trackside Operations Director Alan Permane commented by saying:
'Part of the job of Lotus F1 Team is to consider future drivers through our Lotus F1 Team Junior programme, which has evolved from the longstanding and successful driver development programme run out of Enstone. Esteban has really shone this season so it will be rewarding for all to see him in our simulator and then out on track in the E20.'
© Ben Johnston 2014
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