Force India have today announced that Yelmer Burrman and Antonio Felix da Costa will share driving duties with Force India’s test and reserve driver, Paul di Resta, at the young driver tests in Abu Dhabi next week.
This will be Burrman and Da Costa’s first taste of an F1 car.
The 23-year-old Dutch driver, Burrman, has previously raced in Superleague Formula, in which he finished second overall in 2008. He also contested the GP2 Winter Series with Trust Team Arden alongside team-mate Sebastien Buemi.
Antonio will be the youngest Portuguese driver ever to drive an F1 car when he steps into the VJM03. The 19-year-old served as a rookie driver for A1 Team Portugal. The following year Antonio dominated the NEC field before stepping up to compete in the F3 Euroseries in 2010, in which he became rookie champion.
“We are pleased to be able to offer Yelmer and Antonio the opportunity to test an F1 car,” said Otmar Szafnauer, chief operating officer of Force India.
“Paul will set the benchmark times so they can assess their own performance and see how to work within a top level team.”
Yelmer added, “I am unbelievably happy with this chance. It is an honour to be the next Dutch racing driver to get the chance to test an excellent F1 car.
“F1 remains my ultimate goal and testing for such a good team like Force India F1 Team is a dream come true. I met the team last week for a simulator session learning the circuit and the seat fitting. There is a fantastic atmosphere and I felt immediately at home. I am well prepared and I will do my very best to show that.”
Antonio commented, “Now I can say that I will drive for the Force India F1 Team in this test, it will be a memorable day in my career and I hope the first of many more at the wheel of a Formula 1 car.
“Force India is a fierce and very consistent team, with lots of ambition, that has been evolving throughout the last few years, so I expect to have a good performance and be able to show my potential.”
