- Lotus
F3 champion Ocon to make F1 debut with Lotus test
European Formula 3 champion Esteban Ocon will take part in a two-day test in a two year-old Lotus as his prize for winning the title this year.
Ocon took an unassailable lead in the championship last weekend in Imola to beat 2015 Toro Rosso driver Max Verstappen to the title. Ocon will drive the Lotus E20 - as used by Kimi Räikkönen to win the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - over the course of two days at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo on October 22-23. Ahead of his test, he will be conducting a simulator programme at Lotus' Enstone base.
"Esteban is a tremendous talent for the future. He has shown himself to be a superb driver as part of our Lotus F1 Team Junior programme, we are proud of him and he truly deserves to be given every opportunity to take his career to the next level," Lotus boss Gerard Lopez said. "To that end he will start testing in the Lotus F1 Team simulator at Enstone this week ahead of driving the E20 at Valencia later this month."
Ocon is managed by Gravity Management, which is owned by Lopez's investment company Genii and also manages Romain Grosjean. 18-year-old Ocon said the chance to drive an F1 car is a dream come true.
"I would like to thank Lotus F1 Team and Gravity Management for this superb opportunity. The support and back-up I have been given since 2011 has enabled me to win the FIA Formula 3 Championship against some strong competition and I can't wait to get started on the next step of my training. To drive a Formula One car has always been a dream of mine, so I can't wait to get started."
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