Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 - Posted by Jack Sargeant
Gary Paffett of McLaren topped the timesheets in today’s second young drivers test at Jerez, with the 2005 DTM champion and long-time McLaren test driver setting a fastest time of 01:18.718 in a day dogged by rain.
The Williams driver Nico Hulkenberg with a 2010 race seat for the team set a time of a 1:19.184 in his 94 laps to finish second fastest ahead of Daniel Ricciardo in the Red Bull.
Jules Bianchi could only manage 9th fastest with a 01:20.586 in his 113 laps for Ferrari, after announcing earlier he has signed a long-term contract with the team and will continue his race towards Formula One with a GP2 seat with the ART team in 2010.
The two Brawn GP drivers were almost inseperable – Mike Conway set a 01:20.222 and Marcus Ericsson a 01:20.440, despite the former completing 46 more laps than the Swede Ericsson.
The only driver who forced the red flags to come out was Mirko Bortolotti, when the Toro Rosso man stalled out on track. Bortolotti finished the session last, with his fastest time being a 01:21.761 in his 79 laps.
Times:
01 G. Paffett (McLaren) 01:18.718 80 laps
02 N. Hulkenberg (Williams) 01:19.184 94 laps
03 D. Ricciardo (Red Bull) 01:19.243 92 laps
04 P. di Resta (Force India) 01:19.411 58 laps
05 E. Gutierrez (BMW-Sauber) 01:20.190 68 laps
06 M. Conway (Brawn GP) 01:20.222 83 laps
07 M. Ericsson (Brawn GP) 01:20.440 37 laps
08 J.R. Hildebrand (Force India) 01:20.517 49 laps
09 J. Bianchi (Ferrari) 01:20.586 113 laps
10 L. Di Grassi (Renault) 01:20.898 67 laps
11 H. Tung (Renault) 01:21.492 57 laps
12 M. Bortolotti (Scuderia Toro Rosso) 01:21.761 79 laps
Tags: ART, Brawn GP, Daniel Ricciardo, DTM, Ferrari, Gary Paffett, GP2, Jerez, Jules Bianchi, Marcus Ericsson, McLaren, Mike Conway, Mirko Bortolotti, Nico Hulkenberg, Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Williams
Posted in BMW Sauber, Brawn GP, Ferrari, Force India, McLaren, News, Red Bull, Renault, Toro Rosso, Williams | No Comments »
Thursday, November 26th, 2009 - Posted by Jack Sargeant
The new Mercedes team have today announced their two drivers for the Young Drivers Test at Jerez, Spain which will take place later this month – Mike Conway and Marcus Ericsson.
Mike Conway, the 26 year old from Kent, England has previously won the Formula Renault and British F3 titles. This year he has competed in the IndyCar series, with his only podium being a third place. He finished 17th in the drivers standings.
The 19 year old Swede Marcus Ericsonn won the Formula BMW title in 2007 and just this year he has triumphed and won the Japanese F3 title.
The full list of young drivers heading for Jerez so far is:
BMW Sauber:
Alexander Rossi
Esteban Gutierrez
Mercedes:
Mike Conway
Marcus Ericsson
(more…)
Tags: Alexander Rossi, Andy Soucek, Bertrand Baguette, BMW Sauber, Brendon Hartley, British F3, Daniel Ricciardo, Daniel Zampieri, Esteban Gutierrez, Ferrari, Force India, Formula BMW, Formula Renault, Japanese F3, Jerez, JR Hildebrand, Jules Bianchi, Lucas di Grassi, Marco Zipoli, Marcus Ericsson, McLaren, Mercedes, Mike Conway, Mirko Bortolotti, Nico Hulkenberg, Pablo Sanchez Lopez, Paul di Resta, Red Bull, Renault, Toro Rosso, Williams
Posted in Mercedes GP, News | No Comments »
Thursday, November 12th, 2009 - Posted by Jack Sargeant
Italian Mirko Bortolotti will test for Toro Rosso next month. The 19-year-old, who finished fourth in this year’s Formula Two Championship, is a member of the Red Bull Junior programme and won the 2008 Italian F3 title.
Mirko Bortolotti has driven a Formula 1 car before, when he impressed testing for Ferrari in 2008.
Bortolotti will drive for Toro Rosso on the second day of the test running from December 1-3, with young New Zealander Brendon Hartley expected to be in the car on the other two days. Bortolotti said:
“I’m very happy and very proud. My target is to get to Formula One in the next few years so to be selected for this test is very important for my career.
“Of course, if I can get to F1 even sooner then that will be great, but first I must focus on Jerez.
“There are not many chances for young drivers to test an F1 car due to the regulations so I’m very excited and thankful to Red Bull for giving me this opportunity.
“Every mile counts, particularly with the current testing situation, so I will prepare myself well over the next few weeks and be ready to help the team carry out their programme.”
For the 2009 season, Hartley was appointed as official reserve driver for both the Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso teams, meaning he also has prior experience in an F1 car.
Toro Rosso already have half of their driver line-up sorted with Sebastien Buemi have secured a second consecutive drive, but whether other 2009 driver Jaime Alguersuari will stay with the team is a question unanswered.
Tags: Brendon Hartley, Ferrari, Jaime Alguersuari, Mirko Bortolotti, Red Bull, Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso
Posted in News, Toro Rosso | No Comments »
