Jules Bianchi To Open Force India’s Mugello Test Programme

Force India’s Mugello test programme will get underway next week at the hands of their reserve driver Jules Bianchi, who will join regular drivers’ Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg in sharing driving duties for the Silverstone based team. 

The former Formula Three EuroSeries Champion took part in pre-season testing with Force India, and was last seen behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car at the Chinese Grand Prix when he drove during Friday practice. The Frenchman will drive in eight more Friday practice sessions’ for Force India throughout 2012, alongside his duties for Tech 1 Racing in the World Series by Renault Championship.

Jules Bianchi will hand the car over to Paul di Resta on Wednesday, before German driver Nico Hulkenberg brings the test session to a close on the third and final day at Mugello. Force India will then pack up and head to Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya for the Spanish Grand Prix and round five the 2012 Championship.

Picture Copyright © Force India F1 Team 

Ocean Racing Technology Enters GP3 Series

It has been announced today that Portuguese team Ocean Racing Technology have entered the GP3 Series, taking over from Tech 1 Racing. This comes after they formed an agreement with Tech 1 Racing, allowing them to enter the GP3 Series as well as racing in GP2.

Ocean Racing Technology have been involved with GP2 since 2009, with drivers’ Karun Chandhok and Alvaro Parente and have enjoyed relative success. Since then they have only won two races, courtesy of Alvaro Parente and Fabio Leimer.

Tech 1 Racing have been involved with GP3 since the inaugural season, back in 2010. They have never won a race before, and have had 9 different drivers’ in a very short space of time, including Formula 1 rookie Jean-Eric Vergne.

“We are very happy to welcome Ocean Racing Technology to GP3.” Said GP3 Series CEO Bruno Michel, “They become the fifth team involved in both of our Series along with Lotus GP, Arden Motorsport, Carlin and more recently Trident Racing. It is a great opportunity for the Portuguese Ocean’s team. This new season is set to be another thrilling one.”

Ocean Racing Technology will make their first GP3 track appearance of 2012 next week, at an official pre-season test in Barcelona.

Picture Copyright © Daniel Kalisz/GP2 Series Media Service 

Jules Bianchi To Race In FR3.5 For Tech 1 Racing

After joining Force India as their test and reserve driver for 2012, Jules Bianchi has now officially been announced as a driver for Tech 1 Racing in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, or World Series by Renault as it’s also known. The Frenchman is currently testing for Force India at Jerez in Spain.

Last season Jules Bianchi drove in the GP2 Series for Lotus ART, winning one race at British Grand Prix in the Feature Race. Throughout the season, Bianchi had various other successful results which included three second place finishes and two third place finishes.

Moving from Ferrari to Force India for 2012, Bianchi still remains on the Ferrari Young Drivers’ Programme. His move to Force India is set to allow him the opportunity to gain valuable F1 experience by competing in various Friday morning sessions throughout the 2012 season.

With this in mind, a return to GP2 in 2012 would make things difficult for the Frenchman, as the GP2 Series shadows Formula 1 throughout the season. This would therefore make racing in Friday practice sessions for Force India as well as racing in GP2 on the same day highly difficult to achieve.

“I am very happy to be driving for Tech 1 Racing in the 2012 Formula Renault 3.5 Series” said Jules Bianchi, who is testing for Force India at Jerez this week. “This year is very important for my career and, as a young driver, it’s crucial to have the opportunity to race in such a competitive environment. I will do my best to help the team to achieve its goals this season. I also would like to thank Scuderia Ferrari and Sahara Force India F1 for allowing me to do so.”

The Formula Renault 3.5 Series has produced many Formula 1 drivers’ in recent years, including Fernando Alonso, Heikki Kovalainen, Robert Kubica, Sebastian Vettel, Jaime Alguersuari, Kamui Kobayashi, Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne.

Wickens Gets Friday Drive For Virgin As Young Drivers Test Looms

Canadian World Series by Renault Champion, Robert Wickens, will drive for Virgin during Friday Practice for next weekends Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in place of Belgian rookie Jerome D’Ambrosio. 

This announcement comes off the back of confirmation by the team that the Canadian will also take part in the Young Drivers Test at Abu Dhabi for Virgin. Wickens will join fellow World Series by Renault and HRT driver, Daniel Ricciardo, on track as the new breed of F1 drivers begin to emerge. 

Robert Wickens has also driven for the team in aerodynamics tests throughout the year, and will be hoping to move up to F1 or at least GP2 next season in his quest to enter the top flight of motor sport. He will have strong competition from various other drivers for the 2nd Marussia seat for next season as French GP2 driver Charles Pic has been strongly hinted at replacing D’Ambrosio and GP3 driver Adrian Quaife-Hobbs who will also take part in the Young Drivers Test for Virgin as well. It was also announced during the week that Virgin will next year simply be called Marussia.

Charles Pic raced for Tech 1 Racing and came 4th in this seasons GP2 Standings as he won two races in the Spanish Feature and Monaco Sprint Races as well as coming home in the points on various occasions throughout the season.

Adrian Quaife-Hobbs is also aiming at a drive for Marussia in 2012 and will take part in the Young Drivers Test for Virgin. In 2011 he raced in GP3 for the Marussia sponsored Manor Racing team and came home 5th in the Championship winning one race on the way at the Valencia Street Circuit Feature race, however it would be hard to imagine Quaife-Hobbs jumping straight from GP3 to F1 before racing in GP2 which is the conventional route for anyone racing in GP3.

Other drivers announced for the Abu Dhabi Young Drivers Test include Jean-Eric Verge for Red Bull, Romain Grosjean and Kevin Korjus for Renault, Valtteri Bottas and Mirko Bortolotti for Williams (with Kimi Raikkonen hinted at also taking part), Esteban Gutierrez and Fabio Leimer for Sauber, Stefano Coletti for Toro Rosso, Alex Rossi for Team Lotus, and Robert Wickens and Adrian Quaife-Hobbs for Virgin. 

Many more drivers could make appearances for the teams, and it’s going to be a highly competitive couple of days with these drivers all striving to impress.