Alexander Rossi will test for Caterham Team AirAsia at the upcoming GP2 tests in Jerez and Barcelona, the squad's parent Team Lotus has confirmed today.
The American is a member of the AirAsia Team Lotus Driver Development Programme, and has won twice in Formula Renault 3.5 this year. He spent the Singapore Grand Prix last weekend with Team Lotus.
“I would like to thank Tony, Kamarudin, SM Nasarudin and Riad Asmat for giving me this opportunity with Caterham Team AirAsia,” said Rossi. “I am very excited about working with a team who I have seen progress throughout the 2011 GP2 season from literally nothing to a race winning squad who mirror the professionalism, passion and commitment their colleagues in Team Lotus bring to work every day, and I will do my best to absorb as much as I can and repay the faith the Team Lotus shareholders have shown in me by doing the best job I possibly can over the four days on track.”
Caterham Team AirAsia Principal Riad Asmat said: “One of the key objectives for Tony, Din and Nasa when they set up Caterham Team AirAsia was to provide young talent from across the motorsport spectrum the chance to develop and gain experience on their way to competing at the highest levels of global motorsport.
“Whether it is aviation, music, the automotive industry or Formula One, our shareholders have always passionately believed in giving young people the chance to explore their potential and Alexander is a very good example of how this plan is working in motorsport – he has performed brilliantly in the 2011 World Series by Renault so it is only fitting that we help him further his understanding of how it works at the very top, and we can do that now by giving him the chance to step up to the GP2 series with us at the forthcoming tests.”
The team says it will confirm the other drivers for the two tests shortly.