'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Tio Ellinas will carry out an aero test for Marussia. (File Photo: Tio Ellinas seen driving for Atech Reid GP during Formula Renault UK in 2011.)
GP3 Championship leader, Tio Ellinas, who is currently leading the driver’s standing after a 4th place finish at the week end in Valencia, will carry out a straight line aerodynamic test for Marussia at Kemble airfield on Tuesday.
Ellinas is a part of the young driver academy and is driving for Marussia Manor Racing in the F1 support series. He will be driving an F1 car for the first time in his career and Tuesday’s test will help the driver to evaluate the MR02 ahead of the young driver test at Silverstone next month. He will be the first Cypriot to handle an F1 car.
Trending
“It goes without saying that I am thrilled to get this additional opportunity to drive the Marussia F1 Team MR02 race car,” Ellinas said.
“I have been looking forward to the young driver test since last Autumn and the weeks can’t pass quickly enough. Being able to conduct the straight line test this week will help to bridge the gap until Silverstone and will also mean I can hit the ground running there as I will already be familiar with the car systems and the Team’s procedures.
“In the meantime I have been trying to focus on my GP3 season as I want to give it my all. I can’t pretend I’m not excited about the F1 tests and I would like to thank the Marussia F1 Team for the faith they have shown in me. I hope to do a good job to reward that.”
Team Principal John Booth added: “Tio has done a very impressive job for our GP3 team over one and a half seasons now. We were very pleased to welcome him back for a second term and even more delighted when he brought us our first victory of the season in the opening round in Spain.
“He is definitely a star of the future and deserves both of the opportunities that we are putting his way, starting with this week’s aero test at Kemble. This will provide him with some good familiarization time with the car, which will then enable him to push when we get to the Young Driver Test next month. We look forward to seeing what he can do.”
Source: Skysports
