Maria de Villota test driver for Marussia
The Marussia team announced today the arrival of Maria de Villota. The Spanish driver joins the Russian team as a test driver for the 2012 season.
Maria de Villota was expected to be a reserve or test driver for a Formula 1 team this season after having conducted tests with the Lotus Renault GP team – which became Lotus F1 – at the end of 2011 at the Circuit du Castellet.
To prepare for a potential career in F1, the Spanish driver joined the management structure led by Martin Brundle – 2MB Sports Management yesterday. The goal of this association is to enable Maria de Villota to get closer to Formula 1 and achieve her dream of racing there one day.
This partnership seems to have borne fruit as the former Superleague Formula driver has been chosen by the Marussia F1 team to be one of its test drivers. John Booth, the Marussia F1 team director, also mentioned that she might get behind the wheel of the MR01 during the young driver tests at the end of the season.
« We are delighted to welcome Maria to our test driver program, this will allow her to be integrated into the environment of a Formula 1 team and gain a lot of experience which will be useful for the progression of her career. We will also offer Maria the opportunity to test our F1 car later in the year, » stated John Booth in a statement released by Marussia.
Maria de Villota expressed her delight at being able to work with a Formula 1 team as it will allow her to gain experience to be ready for the day she is called upon to get back in an F1.
«I am very happy to join the Marussia F1 team’s test driver program. It’s a fantastic opportunity to work closely with a Formula 1 team and gain experience to help me progress in my career, with also a possibility of driving the new car later in the year during the Abu Dhabi tests, » expressed Maria de Villota in the statement.
The Spanish driver begins her activities with immediate effect, she will notably be present in Melbourne with Marussia for the first Grand Prix of the season to observe the functioning of an F1 team.
«I will also be joining the team from a track perspective, so I look forward to working with them during the first race next weekend and this can only help my future ambition of racing in Formula 1 one day,» added the young woman.
