• Jerez test

Young drivers' test underway at Jerez

ESPNF1 Staff
December 1, 2009 « FIA reveals Manor will be named Virgin Racing | »
Testing at Jerez got underway on December 1 © Sutton Images
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The young drivers' test are underway today, with Formula One teams returning to the track for the first time since the season ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix a month ago.

The three-day test is designed to allow drivers who have competed in less than three grand prix to gain experience in the 2009 cars.

The in-season testing ban this year severely restricted the teams' ability to try out new talent and resulted in 19-year-old Jaime Alguersuari driving in his first grand prix with minimum F1 experience.

Full line-up, Jerez test, December 1-3

BMW Sauber
Alexander Rossi: The American gets his test as his prize for wining the 2008 Formula BMW World Series. He is now competing in GP2 Asia Series.
Esteban Gutiérrez: Another winner in Formula BMW, he took the European title in 2008, the Mexican is now in Formula 3.

Ferrari
Jules Bianchi: Managed by Nicolas Todt, who also looks after Felipe Massa, he has links to the Ferrari team. However, having won the F3 Euroseries this year he fully deserves his chance.
Daniel Zampieri: He will share the final day of testing with his fellow Italian F3 drivers as part of a Ferrari initiative to promote its home talent. He won the series and now races in GP2 Asia.
Marco Zipoli: Finished second in Italian F3 in 2009 in his third full year of racing.
Pablo Sánchez López: He won four races in Italian F3 but still finished in third overall, behind Zipoli and Zampieri.

Force India
Paul di Resta: He has ties with engine supplier Mercedes, having raced with the marque in DTM. The Scot beat Sebastian Vettel to the F3 Euroseries title in 2006 and is now hoping to secure a Force India test seat.
J.R. Hildebrand: 2009 champion in IndyCar's feeder series, he could be a potential target for US F1 if they push to secure an American driver. He also raced for his nation in A1GP in 2008.

McLaren
Oliver Turvey: Gets the test as part of his prize for winning the 2006 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award. He has never won a title in single seaters but has just embarked on a winter season in GP2 Asia.
Gary Paffett: Long time McLaren test driver, Paffett has spent the last six seasons in DTM. He won the title in 2005 and came second in this year's championship.

Mercedes GP
Mike Conway: As an ex-Honda development driver, he has experience testing with the team. He currently races in IndyCar having failed to impress during three seasons in GP2.
Marcus Ericsson: After a successful season in both Japanese and British Formula 3, this test with the championship winning team comes in just his third season out of karts.

Red Bull Racing
Daniel Ricciardo: On the team's development programme, the current British F3 champion looks set to spend all three days testing for the team. He is racing in GP2 Asia over the winter.

Renault
Bertrand Baguette: The 2009 Formula Renault 3.5 champion has raced in almost all of the company's junior series as well as FIA GTs.
Lucas di Grassi: Experienced Renault tester, he is hoping to secure a race seat in Formula One next year and has been closely linked with Manor. He has just completed his fourth successive year in GP2 without taking the championship.
Ho-Pin Tung: A bit of a leftfield choice for Renault, the 26-year-old Chinese driver hasn't won a title in four years. Having spent some time in the mid-field in GP2 he is now racing in the football related Superleague formula.

Toro Rosso
Brendon Hartley: A member of Red Bull's development driver programme, he was dropped as the senior team's third driver just weeks before Sebastien Bourdais was replaced by Jaime Alguersuari. He won one race in the F3 Euroseries and one in Formula Renault 3.5 this year.
Mirko Bortolotti: Having tested for Ferrari last year as his prize for winning the Italian F3 title, he has been racing in Formula 2 and the F3 Euroseries this year.

Williams
Andy Soucek: His test is part of his prize for winning the F2 title this year - a series using cars built by the team. The Spaniard has spent the last two years in GP2.
Nico Hülkenberg: Having been named as the team's second driver for 2010, it will be the GP2 champion's debut test for his new team. Expectations are high and he won't want to disappoint.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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