09/11/2011
NEWS STORY
Williams has confirmed that it will run Valtteri Bottas and Mirko Bortolotti in the young driver test in Abu Dhabi.
Bottas is currently the team's Official Test and Reserve Driver. In addition to his Williams duties this year, he also took championship honours in the GP3 Championship with ART after a convincing set of race wins. He will drive the FW33 on days one and two of the test.
The final day's running will be undertaken by reigning Formula Two champion, Mirko Bortolotti who joins the team as part of the reward package for winning this year's Formula Two title.
"I'm very much looking forward to these two days in Abu Dhabi," said Bottas. "It's something I have waited a long time for and is a dream come true. I have done everything I can to prepare myself for the test physically, and I have done a lot of preparation work with the team in the simulator, so I feel I'm 100% ready. So far, I have only completed straight-line tests with Williams, so it will be great to have a go on a proper circuit now! I'm really thankful to the team for giving me this opportunity and I aim to do my best to help them gather as much data as possible next week."
"I'm obviously really pleased that I have been given the opportunity to test in Abu Dhabi with Williams," added Bortolotti. "I will try to learn the car as quickly as possible and do the best I can for the team. I hope to learn lots of information from the engineers during the time I have and just enjoy it. For sure it's going to be a big day for me and I'm looking forward to it."