Thursday, 20 November 2014

Ocon to drive for Lotus on Friday

(Lotus F1 Team)

The Lotus F1 Team have announced that Esteban Ocon will drive the E22 on Friday in Free Practice One. The Enstone outfit have confirmed that Ocon will drive for the team on the opening day of the end of season test at the Yas Marina circuit on Tuesday while the team's official test and reserve driver Charles Pic will drive on Wednesday.

Speaking following the announcement, Ocon stated:

'It is a fantastic opportunity for me to drive in my first session at a Grand Prix and I am tremendously grateful to Lotus F1 Team and Gravity Sport Management. 

The practice session on Friday will be my first time driving the Yas Marina circuit and my first time in the latest generation Formula 1 car, so there will be a lot to learn, especially as I will be completing the team’s programme for the free practice session. For the test day we will have far more time me to learn and develop with the car so I’m really looking forward to Abu Dhabi.'

It will not be the first time that Ocon has driven a Lotus F1 car as he drove Kimi Raikkonen's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix winning E20 at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tomo. Speaking about the announcement Lotus F1 Team deputy team principal Frederico Gastaldi stated:

'Esteban is a superb young talent and we are particularly excited to give him this opportunity. He impressed all our engineers when he drove for us in Valencia, but this will be another step in his development programme. It’s great for us a team to support developing drivers, especially one with the potential of Esteban.'

© Ben Johnston 2014

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