McLaren, Toro Rosso confirm young driver test participants
McLaren-Mercedes and Scuderia Toro Rosso have both followed Force India F1's lead and revealed the names of who they will put through their paces during the special post-Abu Dhabi FIA young driver test next week.
With the test taking place on 16-17 November - just two days after the conclusion of the F1 2010 World Championship campaign at Yas Marina - McLaren will run its loyal test and reserve driver Gary Paffett alongside former McLaren/Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year award-winner Oliver Turvey. The principal focus for the Woking-based outfit will be to gather information on the top flight's new 2011 tyres from Pirelli.
Meanwhile, Red Bull 'B' team Toro Rosso - long a breeding ground for promising young talent - will give runaway reigning British F3 Champion Jean-Eric Vergne his first real taste of F1 machinery in the Ferrari-powered STR5 in the UAE.
Vergne is a product of the Red Bull Young Driver programme, and en route to the British F3 crown the 20-year-old triumphed an incredible 13 times and set a staggering 20 pole positions and 14 fastest race laps.
"I am delighted to be given this fantastic opportunity and would like to thank Red Bull and Scuderia Toro Rosso," confessed the highly-regarded Frenchman. "To-date, my only experience behind the wheel of an F1 car has been driving the Red Bull Racing car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
"Apart from that, I have spent a lot of time in their simulator, providing feedback during grand prix weekends. I am looking forward to these two days in Abu Dhabi, and I hope there will be other opportunities to drive an F1 car in the future."
