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Grosjean gets Renault FP1 drives

Romain Grosjean has been working closely with Renault after winning the GP2 title this year © Sutton Images

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• Championship:
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• Drivers:
• Eric Boullier
• |
• Romain Grosjean

• Teams:
• Renault

Romain Grosjean will drive for Renault during Free Practice 1 at both the Abu Dhabi and Brazilian grands prix.

Grosjean - who raced for Renault in 2009 - won the GP2 title this season and is managed by Renault team principal Eric Boullier's Gravity management company. Grosjean has been a third driver for Renault this season, and Boullier said that it was "an appropriate time" to increase his involvement with the team.

"Romain has been part of the LRGP family since February and we feel this is an appropriate time to give him a chance to drive for us during two Free Practice sessions," Boullier said. "Putting his skills to the test in two consecutive Friday sessions will offer him precious experience of driving the R31 during a race weekend and will make him a better driver

"I'm sure that his feedback will be useful for the team, especially as he raced in F1 only two years ago. Since then, he has improved in every area and I'm sure he'll do a good job for us. We will be able to do this without compromising our usual Friday set-up work in any way, and as of Free Practice 2 at both race weekends, Bruno [Senna] and Vitaly [Petrov] will return to their cars."

Grosjean will replace Senna in Abu Dhabi and Petrov in Brazil, and he said that his experiences of the last year should stand him in good stead to make the most of the opportunity.

"I am delighted to be given this opportunity and I feel very excited about driving the R31 for the first time during a Grand Prix weekend," Grosjean said. "It will be a big responsibility for me and my priority will be to do the best job I can for the team. I know all the team's mechanics and engineers, am familiar with the methodology and processes and I know the two tracks I'll be testing on. I also feel that the racing I did in the GP2 Series this year will stand me in good stead fitness-wise. Finally, I did some F1 testing for Pirelli during the winter at the beginning of this year, so the tyres shouldn't be too alien to me.

"I believe all the right elements are in place to make this a great experience, and I don't feel too much pressure going into this. My aim, of course, will be to help Lotus Renault GP prepare for the race weekends, to offer the best feedback I can and to be reliable and consistent. Getting an opportunity like this is always a massive boost in a driver's career and I'll make sure I make the most of the chance I've been given."

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