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Grosjean wanted Young Driver Test time

ESPN Staff
July 20, 2013 « Wolff's test was 'positive' - Williams | Wolff eyeing 2014 FP1 drives »
Davide Valsecchi and Nicolas Prost carried out the running for Lotus at Silverstone © Sutton Images
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Romain Grosjean says he wanted to drive for Lotus at some stage during the Silverstone Young Driver Test.

Kimi Raikkonen was initially allocated Friday's running to test the updated Pirelli tyres, but the team changed its program following clarification about which changes could be made to the car when a race driver was running. Instead, Nicolas Prost drove on Friday but Grosjean said he was hoping to get some running on the new tyres.

"As a driver, you always want to be in the car getting as much experience as possible; especially when there's something new like different tyres," Grosjean said. "The tyres we used at the NĂĽrburgring suited us pretty well, so let's hope the latest version will also suit us at the Hungaroring."

However, highlighting the benefits of only running test drivers, trackside operations director Alan Permane added that the test had allowed Lotus to sign off some new parts for Hungary.

"We had a tightly packed schedule over the three day test at Silverstone, to the point where even with a few extra days and sets of tyres we would still have had more than enough development work to keep us occupied," he said. "This has given us plenty to think about heading to Hungary and indeed the second half of the season. Some of those developments will be carried across into this next race; wait and see when the cars roll out on Friday morning…"

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