Ferrari
has announced that young Frenchman Jules Bianchi, who
was the first driver to join its new "academy" when it
was formed late last year, will take on the role of an
official test driver for the Scuderia for the 2011
season.
Bianchi, who will continue to be part of the Ferrari
Driver Academy programme, will make his debut in his new
position next Tuesday (16 November) as part of the two
day young driver test being held at Abu Dhabi’s Yas
Marina circuit immediately following Sunday's grand
prix.
The Scuderia’s commitment to young drivers is also
reflected in the third annual day of testing when the
top three finishers in the Italian Formula 3
Championship get to drive a Formula 1 car: on 2
December, at the Vallelunga circuit near Rome, the top
three in the series will take to the track at the wheel
of an F2008: they are Brazil’s Cesar Ramos, Stephane
Richelmi from Monaco and the Italian, Andrea Caldarelli.
Bianchi
clinched the Euroseries F3 championship title last year
and the Frenchman made his debut for Ferrari in a test
session held at Jerez on 1 December 2009, the occasion
of last season's official F1 young driver test. Since
his start in single-seaters, Bianchi has been considered
as a future star. As a rookie, he won the 2007 title in
the French Formula Renault championship right away. One
year later, he changed to ART Grand Prix in the Formula
3 Euroseries. Indeed, the rookie made a few mistakes,
but at an early stage, he was proving that he had the
necessary speed: he scored his maiden podium finish in
only his third race. The new champion comes from a
genuine motorsport dynasty. His grandfather Mauro
Bianchi and the latter’s brother Lucien were both
successful race drivers. In 1968, Lucien won the Le Mans
24 Hours and even scored podium finishes in Formula 1.
Mauro also competed in Formula 1.
