Rookie Days: Lotus, Toro Rosso and Caterham Announce Their Drivers

The Lotus F1 team announced at the beginning of October that Nicolas Prost will drive the E20 on the Yas Marina circuit for one day. The other drivers had not been announced, but the Enstone team has revealed the names of the two drivers who will accompany the Frenchman.

This is Edoardo Mortara, who usually races in DTM, and Davide Valsecchi, this season’s GP2 champion. The Italian driver expressed his delight at this opportunity: “It’s a huge honor for me. I can’t wait to showcase my skills and prove that I’m ready to take the final step in my career after winning the GP2 title. Lotus F1 Team is a great team with an amazing group of engineers, and it will be fantastic to take to the track with them in Abu Dhabi.”

The Caterham F1 team has also announced its drivers for these young driver tests, and unsurprisingly, they are Giedo Van der Garde – the team’s reserve driver – and Alexander Rossi – the team’s test driver. The American driver is thrilled to be able to drive the CT01 again: « I want to thank Caterham F1 for the opportunity they are giving me to participate once again in the Abu Dhabi young driver tests. I have had a good year with the team as a test driver, and in addition to the Free Practice 1 sessions I took part in Spain, it’s another chance to add more F1 experience on a track I know well, having raced there several times in the past. »

Last team that hadn’t announced its drivers for the young drivers’ tests, Scuderia Toro Rosso. The Italian team will field two drivers who raced in GP2 this season, Luiz Razia and Johnny Cecotto Jr. After driving the Sahara Force India at Magny-Cours in September, Razia will have the chance to test a second F1 single-seater this year.