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Quaiffe-Hobbs, Pic and Wickens all set to test for Virgin

Robert Wickens will be back in action on Thursday after driving the Virgin during FP1 on Friday © Sutton Images

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• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Charles Pic
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• Robert Wickens

Virgin has finalised its line-up for the Young Driver Test next week in Abu Dhabi.

The team had already confirmed that Adrian Quaife-Hobbs would drive during the three day test, but it has now revealed Charles Pic and Robert Wickens, who drove the car during first practice in Abu Dhabi on Friday, will join him.

"We're delighted to be able to offer Adrian, Charles and our reserve driver Robert Wickens seat time in the MVR-02 next week and in return we look forward to some convincing performances from all of them," team principal John Booth said. "The Young Driver Test is a fantastic opportunity to see the cream of the next generation of talent in action for the various teams and to enable them to demonstrate that they have what it takes to progress to the highest level of motorsport. In the meantime of course, we've also had Robert in the car for Free Practice 1 today and it's been very rewarding to see him in action. We'll be keeping a close eye on all of them during the week ahead."

Quaife-Hobbs will be first in the car on Tuesday morning and gets his opportunity after finishing fifth in the GP3 Series this season driving for Virgin's junior team Marussia Manor Racing. He has already completed a couple straight-line tests for Virgin this season.

"I can't wait to drive the Marussia Virgin Racing Formula One car again," he said. "I'm even more excited this time out as I'll get the chance to run at a proper racing circuit and show more of what I can do. I'm going to enjoy the experience but at the same time I want to learn as much as possible with the team as it's an important stepping stone for the future."

Pic comes to the team after a strong season in GP2 with three feature race wins and fourth in the standings overall. It will be his first F1 test and he will drive during Tuesday afternoon and all of Wednesday.

"I'd like to thank Marussia Virgin Racing for this opportunity to test a Formula One car for the first time," Pic said. "It's going to be a very special moment for me, one I have been waiting for my whole racing career! Formula One is my goal so I will be putting everything I have into the test and look forward to the experience of working with the team and learning as much as I can from them."

Wickens, who won the Formula Renault 3.5 title with Marussia Manor Racing this season, will return to the car for Thursday's session.

"My feet haven't really touched the ground since I won the FR3.5 Championship last month and as a result I have some great opportunities here in Abu Dhabi this weekend and also in the test next week," he said. "It's been fantastic to run in the MVR-02 for Free Practice 1 today and then I'll get another full day in the car next Thursday. It's been a very positive year working with Marussia Virgin Racing, so it's great to get these chances and show that I'm ready for the next level."

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