Force India have announced that Dutchman Yelmer Buurman and Portuguese Antonio Felix da Costa will be in the VJM03 for the young driver test on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, along with regular test and reserve driver Paul di Resta.
For both Yelmer and Antonio, this will be their first experience of driving an F1 car.
Buurman, 23, has competed in the Superleague Formula and in GP2. He says that this opportunity is a good step towards his ultimate career dream – competing in Formula 1. “I am unbelievably happy with this chance,” said the Dutchman. “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 I am more than quick enough for F1.”
At 19, Antonio Felix da Costa will be the youngest Portuguese driver ever to drive a Formula 1 car. His most recent racing has taken place in the F3 Euroseries, where he became rookie champion. “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,” he said. “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.
“I’ve just been in England at Force India headquarters in Silverstone for a first contact with the team and all their staff, I’ve moulded my seat and I had the opportunity to work on the simulator on a first contact with the Yas Marina racetrack.”
