Lotus confirms reserve driver D’Ambrosio for Monza
4 September, 2012
Jerome D’Ambrosio to race at Monza
Sep.4 (GMM) Belgian Jerome d’Ambrosio will contest this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix in the place of Romain Grosjean. The announcement ends speculation that Lotus might have overlooked its official reserve driver for the Monza seat, after team regular Grosjean was given a one-race ban by the FIA for causing the spectacular first-lap crash at Spa last Sunday.
Rubens Barrichello, Jaime Alguersuari and Adrian Sutil were speculatively linked with the one-off cockpit, but it now emerges that 2011 Virgin Racing driver d’Ambrosio, 26, will race the competitive Lotus E20.
“We know that Jerome is well integrated into the team and that he did a good job when he drove the car at the Mugello test,” said team boss Eric Boullier.
“Now he has the challenge of a grand prix at the challenging circuit of Monza, in a car which is capable of finishing on the podium.”
D’Ambrosio said: “My desire for 2012 has always been to get back into the seat of a Formula 1 car so I am grabbing this opportunity with both hands. Monza is a fantastic circuit and I can’t wait to take to the track on Friday.”
“As third driver I have worked with the team at every Grand Prix, attending all the briefings and meetings that the race drivers do, so I am well prepared in this respect. Monza is a superb circuit, but it is also quite a technical one so I am not underestimating the task ahead of me,.”
“I want to reward the faith that the team has in me with a good haul of points from the race. I will hand the wheel back to Romain after Sunday’s race and I hope that this one showing in Italy will allow me to show my capabilities fully,” added D’Ambrosio.
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Related posts:
- Four drivers in line to replace banned Grosjean at Monza
- D’Ambrosio set to replace banned Grosjean for Monza
- Grosjean gets one race ban for causing crash and will miss Monza
- Vettel, Veni, Vidi, Vici at Monza
- Mercedes confirms Heidfeld as reserve driver
fgdfhf:
Yeah, well, you could say Grosjean is no noob either, yet none of them have had the F1 mileage to properly drive these cars, I don’t car how you see it.
Maybe you have a soft spot for Jerome…
D’Ambrosio deserves to show the team and other drivers he is capable of handling the pressure to perform to a high standard as Kimi… This is a great way for him to do so and all the best of luck to him.. If all goes well, maybe a permanent race seat for him, relegating Grosjean to 3rd driver? who knows, at the end of the GP im sure everyone will have there opinion whether he deserves a full time drive with Lotus. As for Romain… He really needs to stop making mistakes, otherwise I’m sure Lotus will have no problem in dropping him. Good luck to Lotus in Monza!!
Butterfly, if you only have to say negative things to say all the time. Stay in your shell! Jerome is no noob, I’m belgian and I’ve even met him once, he is one nice chap! On top of that he is half Italian, so it couldn’t be greater for him. The only mistake I can recall is his pitlane spin with the virgin crapmobil and the Montreal spin and off in free practice.
Replacing a noob with another noob.
Good Luck Jerome show them what you have to offer!
I’m glad he get a chance to do GP in 2012 Lotus, many drivers would give their arm for such chance.
Best of luck and enjoy it!!!!