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Wolff, Juncadella and Maldonado to test for Williams

ESPN Staff
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Susie Wolff: "It's a fantastic opportunity for me" © Sutton Images
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Williams will run Susie Wolff and Daniel Juncadella at this week's Young Driver Test at Silverstone, giving both drivers their first taste of a contemporary F1 car on a proper circuit. Race driver Pastor Maldonado will also complete one day behind the wheel under the revised rules that allow race drivers to take part in tyre testing.

Wolff is the team's development driver and last year drove a 2011 Williams at Silverstone as well as completing straight-line tests. However, this will be her first proper outing in a current Formula One car and should see the 30 year old qualify for an F1 superlicence.

"It's a fantastic opportunity for me, so now it is up to me to prepare myself the best that I can for the day," she said. "It's going to be a big challenge but the most important thing is to do a solid and consistent job and to give good feedback to the team to be able to prove I am at the level to compete on a day such as this.

"Most of my work is based in the simulator which is why this day is so important for me. It will give me a better understanding of what the car is like on track and how that correlates to the simulator which will also help further develop the work I can do there."

Technical director Mike Coughlan added: "It is great that we are able to give Susie the opportunity to have a full day behind the wheel of the FW35 following all the hard work and dedication she has put in both supporting us at the track and in the simulator."

Juncadella currently races in DTM for Mercedes and drove a 2009-spec Ferrari last year as part of a prize for winning the Formula 3 Euroseries in 2012.

"It's a great chance for me and I hope I can help the team next week," he said. "It's an important test for any young driver as there aren't many opportunities to drive a Formula One car. I had my first taste of Formula One as a prize for winning the 2012 Formula 3 Euro Series title, but it was a 2009 car so I therefore see this as being the real deal, having the chance to drive a current car in a full test.

"I've spent a couple of days at the factory getting to know the team and I felt at home. Looking at the history of the team is also amazing and so to get this chance with Williams, a team so many great drivers have raced for, makes it even more special."

The test will run from Wednesday to Friday this week and Coughlan said the team would dedicate one of the three days to tyre testing with Maldonado at the wheel.

"Given the recent test regulation changes, we will also now run Pastor to enable Pirelli to gain further data to continue their development programme."

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