2011 Auto GP champion Kevin Ceccon will get the chance to test a Formula 1 car for the first time when he takes part in the Young Driver test in Abu Dhabi for Scuderia Toro Rosso.
The 18-year-old Italian will get one and a half days in the car, sharing it with Stefano Coletti who like Ceccon will race for Scuderia Coloni in the GP2 Final at Yas Marina next weekend.
“It's unbelievable how this year in Auto GP changed my life,” said Ceccon. “In just one year I passed from F3 to winning both Auto GP titles, debuting in GP2 and fulfilling the dream of driving an F1 car with a competitive team as Toro Rosso.
“I wasn't even thinking about this until some days ago and it feels like a dream, but I'm fully aware that even after such an amazing year I'm just at the beginning of my path. I have a lot to learn, and this will be my attitude for this test, aiming to gather as much experience as possible from this great opportunity and hoping to boast a very good performance at the same time.”
Auto GP chief Enzo Coloni commented: “We are very proud of having the Auto GP champion taking part in the F1 Rookie test in Abu Dhabi, it's the proof of how the F1 environment is looking to the Series with great interest while searching for the champions of tomorrow, thanks to a grid quality that for the second year in a row presented the highest standards.
“I believe that thanks to its technical side, mainly the high power output from the engine and the lack of ground effect, Auto GP can be a really good school for drivers that are hoping for a future in Formula 1; I'm sure that Ceccon, who did really well both in Auto GP and in GP2, will be up to the task with Toro Rosso.”