Nicolas Prost in the young driver tests in Abu Dhabi with Lotus

Nicolas Prost, son of the four-time French champion, will participate for the Lotus team in the Young Driver Tests at the Yas Marina circuit after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: « It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to gain experience at the highest level of motorsport, and I am extremely grateful to the team for giving me this opportunity. I won the Euroseries 3000 championship in 2008, twice finished first among gasoline cars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and I am currently fourth in the World Endurance Championship—first gasoline driver—so this is an exciting step in my career. »

The Frenchman will not, however, discover the Lotus team for which he has been serving as a reserve driver, particularly during demonstrations, since 2010, back when the team still represented Renault. But to prepare, Nicolas Prost will take the wheel of the Renault R30, starting this weekend, in Navarra, Spain, as the regulations do not prohibit test sessions with a single-seater that does not comply with the current technical regulations: « I have been working with the team for several months already, but this will be the first time I drive the R30 in a competitive environment, so my goal is to make the most of my time on track while trying to provide the team with useful feedback for the future. »

For his part, Eric Boullier, director of the British team, is delighted to offer this opportunity to the thirty-year-old driver with whom he has already had the chance to work when he was leading the French team of the late A1 GP championship: « Nicolas has done a good job as a reserve driver this season and we are thrilled to offer him a place with the team for the Young Drivers Test next month. It is a great opportunity for promising drivers to gain experience in the category that is the focus of their ambitions, and with the skills Nicolas has gathered through various disciplines throughout his career, we are confident that it will be beneficial for both the team and the driver. »