- Sauber
De Silvestro secures Sauber test role
Sauber has announced Simona de Silvestro will be an affiliated driver with the team this year, with the goal of competing in F1 next season.
The Swiss driver has spent the last four years in Indycar, finishing second in Houston last October - the first podium finish for a woman on a road course in the history of the series. De Silvestro will spend 2014 testing, participating in simulator training to prepare for the mental and physical demands of F1.
The 25-year-old is hoping to earn her super license over the course of the season, and Sauber team principle Monisha Kaltenborn is confident De Silvestro will be ready for the step up.
"Simona's ambition is to enter Formula One in 2015," she said. "We regard her as a very talented race driver, and we, therefore, decided to take her on board as an 'affiliated driver' and support her on her way to the pinnacle of motorsport."
De Silvestro, who won the Indianapolis 500 rookie of the year award in 2010, thanked Sauber for the opportunity.
"This is a major step toward me achieving a lifelong dream, and I'm so happy to have the opportunity to take this step with such a great team," De Silvestro said.
"The Sauber F1 Team is a team with a legacy and the only Swiss team in Formula One, which I think makes this even more exciting. I can't thank Monisha Kaltenborn and Peter Sauber enough for their support and belief in my abilities and for giving me this chance."
We are pleased to announce @simdesilvestro as affiliated driver of the team. Read more on http://t.co/LkEW9NvtO0 pic.twitter.com/Mbl3zXStb4
— Sauber F1 Team (@OfficialSF1Team) February 14, 2014© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
