Jérôme d’Ambrosio has become the official reserve driver for Lotus ahead of the 2012 Formula 1 season. The Belgian newcomer of last year joins the team formerly known as Renault alongside Kimi Räikkönen and Romain Grosjean, having been replaced at Marussia Virgin Racing by Frenchman Charles Pic.
D’Ambrosio joined F1 in 2011, finishing the year ahead of more experienced team-mate Timo Glock. His career is backed by Genii Capital, the Luxembourg-based investment company which is a co-owner of Enstone-based Lotus.
“It’s a great feeling to be joining the Lotus F1 Team,” the 26-year-old said on Tuesday evening. “It’s an exciting next step in my career. I have contested a complete season in F1 as a race driver for a smaller team, where I learnt a lot about Formula 1. Now I have the opportunity to work with one of the top teams with great potential for my future development.
“With my recent race experience, I know I can make a valuable contribution. Of course, I would love to be racing, but racing with a top team. Being associated with Lotus should be more beneficial and this is the choice I have made. This opportunity is one I couldn’t afford to miss. My desire to get back in a race seat in the future is motivating me to do the best job possible in my new position.”
He has been welcomed by Team Principal and Managing Director Eric Boullier, who owns the DAMS outfit with which d’Ambrosio competed in the 2010 GP2 season.
“To have a third driver who is highly motivated, fresh and talented and who contested the full 2011 season is highly beneficial for us,” says Boullier. “In Jérôme we have someone we know well who integrates beneficially with the squad. He impressed as reserve driver for us in 2010 and at the end of that year he made a strong showing in the Young Driver Test. He also showed strongly in his rookie season as an F1 race driver. I am looking forward to working with Jérôme again and think he is a perfect addition to our driving strength.”
D’Ambrosio will step into the 2012 Lotus if Räikkönen or Grosjean are unable to race.
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