Renault: Oliver Rowland becomes development driver
Formula 2 championship resident Oliver Rowland, also a member of the Renault Young Driver Academy, becomes a development driver with the French F1 team for the 2017 season.
The F2 championship, formerly known as GP2, will start this weekend in Bahrain alongside the F1 Grand Prix. The 20 drivers involved will compete for the title won last year by the Frenchman Pierre Gasly.
Among them, Oliver Rowland, a member of the Dams team and the Renault young driver academy, has just received good news. He has indeed been appointed as a development driver in Formula 1 for the diamond brand.
Enough to approach this new season calmly for the Briton: « My goal has always been to have a role in F1. So it’s great to see all my hard work paying off. The Renault Sport Academy has provided me with an ideal training ground, and this position as a development driver represents an exciting new step within the Renault family after so many years in Formula Renault 2.0, 3.5, and then in the Academy. I learned a lot last year, especially working on the Enstone simulator. I feel well prepared for this role. I am proud to be part of the team. I will work hard and do everything I can to contribute to the development of the R.S.17. »
Rowland should focus on simulator work but will also be given the chance to drive on track during the private test days reserved for young drivers, the first of which is scheduled precisely in Bahrain, right after the race weekend.
