Thursday, November 13, 2008

Renault confirm van der Garde test date

Renault confirm van der Garde test date

Giedo van der Garde will test for Renault at Catalunya next week as part of his prize for winning this year's Formula Renault 3.5 Series.

The Dutchman, who was part of Spyker's Formula One test driver roster in 2007, will have a seat fitting at the Renault factory and meet the team's engineers tomorrow, before partipating in their Barcelona test on 17-18 November.

"This is an incredible opportunity being offered to me by Renault Sport Technologies and ING Renault F1 Team," he said.

"To be able to test-drive a Formula One car in these conditions, with a team that has won two world championships and again this year won two Grands Prix, is ideal.

"Going back to Enstone will be very special for me. I often used to go and train there when I was on the Renault Driver Development programme. So I'll be seeing people I already know. That will help me to integrate into the team more easily."

The champion of the single-seater element of Renault's World Series programme traditionally receives a Renault F1 test, and van der Garde will follow in the footsteps of previous title-winners Robert Kubica, Alx Danielsson and Alvaro Parente.

The 23-year-old, who is now racing in the GP2 Asia series, has experience of the Catalunya track from his FR 3.5 days.

"It's a real positive to be driving on a circuit where I've driven quite a lot in the past," said van der Garde.

"But in a Formula One car, everything will be different. It's another world.

"The most important thing for me will be to learn as much as I can. I'm going to do all I can to meet the team's expectations."



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