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Chilton gets Abu Dhabi Friday drive

Max Chilton last drove for Marussia at the Young Driver Test at Silverstone © Sutton Images

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• Race:
• Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

• Drivers:
• Max Chilton

• Teams:
• Manor

Max Chilton will drive for Marussia during Friday practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix next weekend.

Since being named as Marussia reserve following the Singapore Grand Prix, Chilton had been heavily linked with some Friday practice time ahead of a potential race seat in 2013. Now the team has confirmed that Chilton will drive in FP1 in Abu Dhabi in place of Charles Pic having had previous experience of the circuit in GP2 and last year's Young Driver Test.

"I feel very proud to be entrusted with this opportunity by the Marussia F1 Team," Chilton said. "As part of the Young Driver Programme this year I got to know the Team very well, but over the last two race weekends, as Reserve Driver, I feel like I have a proper role and have learned so much about the Formula 1 environment in a very short space of time. This is the next step in the process of proving my potential and another important notch for me personally in terms of my ultimate goals.

"As for next Friday, the 90 minutes of FP1 will fly by so quickly that it's a real bonus to be testing the car at a circuit I know well. It means I can get up to speed straight away and focus on delivering some proper set-up and aero evaluation data for the Team to help during the rest of the weekend. My thanks to everyone at the Marussia F1 Team for the faith they have shown in me so far and I will now concentrate my efforts on keeping my excitement in check and ensuring I make the most of this fantastic opportunity!"

Team principal John Booth said he is looking forward to seeing how Chilton has progressed since he last drove for Marussia in the Young Driver Test at Silverstone.

"We are delighted to provide this opportunity to Max in Abu Dhabi as it serves two important functions for us," Booth said. "First of all, in the position of Reserve Driver, Max needs to be as prepared as possible should he be required to substitute for either race driver in the remaining races of the 2012 season. Secondly, as part of our ongoing assessment of the next generation of racing talent, we are interested to see how Max has progressed since we first put him in the car at our Young Driver Test at Silverstone in the summer.

"Since that time, Max has impressed a great deal in the GP2 series, achieving two race wins in the latter part of the season, so at the same time as ensuring his preparedness for the Reserve Driver role, we are looking forward to comparing his driving development with his growing maturity outside of the car. Of the four remaining Grand Prix venues we will visit this season, Abu Dhabi will impact least on Charles' race weekend preparation and it will be business as usual for him with effect from Friday afternoon."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.