Paffett, Turvey set for McLaren test

McLaren is set to run reserve driver Gary Paffett and GP racer Oliver Turvey in next week's Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi.

Paffett has spent 2011 competing once again in the DTM and confirmed the news via his Twitter feed that he has been given the chance to drive during the three-day long test.

"Yes I have been announced as one of McLaren's drivers for the Young Driver test next week at Abu Dhabi," he wrote. "Really looking forward to it.

"Although it is called a 'Young' driver test the only restrictions is for drivers that have raced in F1. Not age!!"

Team boss Martin Whitmarsh then confirmed that Turvey is also set to get his chance as the team prepares to work on a development programme with Pirelli during the test.

"We will probably [also] run Oliver Turvey who is also a McLaren young driver," he said during a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes phone-in. "The main focus will be on giving them a little bit more exposure to Formula One and for people to be aware of them.

"Then on a technical level we will have a programme with Pirelli. Pirelli are now completing their first season in Formula One. They have got to be congratulated for what they have contributed to the sport. They came in fairly late with a big challenge and a lot of question marks over what they were going to do and how they were going to do it. I think we owe them quite a lot of time so we can develop the tyres. I think their tyres have contributed significantly to the show.

"Certainly they have contributed to the engineering challenge - and the driver challenge. We have agreed to run an extensive programme for them."