F1: Van Der Garde To Be Caterham Third Driver

Formula 1

F1: Van Der Garde To Be Caterham Third Driver

Giedo van der Garde is a three-year GP2 veteran...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted February 04, 2012 Balen (BEL)

Giedo van der Garde will do some Friday FP1 sessions with Caterham over the course of the upcoming season. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Dutchman Giedo van der Garde is to be reserve driver for Caterham this year.

The three-year GP2 veteran, who has been associated with Renault and McLaren young driver programs in the past, has a strong sponsorship package, and been a contender for a HRT race seat.

In the past he has tested for Spyker/Force India, Super Aguri, and Renault. He will do some Friday FP1 sessions with Caterham over the course of the season.

Team boss Tony Fernandes said: “He is a very exciting prospect that we have been monitoring since the early days of our team, and we are all looking forward to seeing how he can help us develop throughout the season as we take our next steps towards the established midfield teams ahead.

“His performances in GP2, particularly in 2011, mark Giedo out as one of motorsport’s brightest prospects, and securing him as reserve driver is a real coup for our team. I am sure he will flourish on and off track, and we wish him all the best as he takes the next step into Formula One with us.”

Van der Garde add: “The team is fresh, with some fantastic people here. Tony Fernandes is extremely ambitious and he has brought in a lot of very good people in to help grow this team for future success. I’m looking forward to learning and moving forward with the team, in and out of the car.

“It’s great for Holland that we again have a Dutch driver who is connected to Formula One. Being the only Dutch driver now is very good for the sport in Holland, as the interest was perhaps on the decline since the Verstappen years. However, I hope to generate the same excitement for my country and really bring Formula One to them.

“I feel that the team as a whole is very ambitious. They appear to be very positive people and I think they are building up, growing and developing very quickly. I think this year they will be strong contenders! We’ll see after the test but I really have a feeling that it’s a big family here and they are pushing very hard to move up the grid. I feel very strong now, I’m fit, and I’m mentally ready. Of course, I’ve spent a lot of time driving with guys who are now in Formula One and I feel I’m ready for this.”

Adam Cooper notched up his 27th season as a racing journalist in 2011. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter.