02/09/2013
NEWS STORY
Following his performance in the Young Driver Test, James Calado has been signed as reserve and test driver for the Sahara Force India team.
The deal, which was brokered by Nicolas Todt's All Road Management company, will involve Calado in several Friday tests among the remaining Grands Prix of the season.
"I'm pleased to confirm that we've signed James as our third driver," said Vijay Mallya. "We worked with him during the Silverstone test (July) and he impressed everyone with his speed and consistency. We've always tried to support young drivers and this is a great opportunity for James to gain some valuable experience of driving during Formula One race events.
"James will take part in the opening free practice session on Friday (at Monza). He will also run in practice at several other races this year. It's always useful to get another driver's feedback on the car and it will help us evaluate James."
"It has been an amazing journey with the Racing Steps Foundation to get me to this level," added Calado. "I am thrilled to have got this appointment with Sahara Force India and would like to thank Graham Sharp and Derek Walters not to mention ARM, for their massive commitment and belief in my race driving skills."
Calado is a product of the Racing Steps Foundation. The relationship began in 2008 and saw the Worcestershire-born 19 year old complete two years in Formula Renault UK with Fortec Motorsport, becoming Vice-Champion in 2009. For 2010, the RSF funded him with Carlin in the British Formula 3 International Championship where in his debut year, he achieved Vice-Champion status.
For 2011, the RSF moved James to ART Grand Prix for a season in GP3, in which he again rose to Vice-Champion level. Such was the consistency of James' overall performance that for 2012, the RSF promoted the young star to GP2 with ART, a programme he is repeating for 2013. ART Grand Prix has an established reputation for getting young talent into Formula 1: Felipe Massa, Pastor Maldonado and Jules Bianchi have all benefitted from the wise guidance of Nicolas Todt and ARM.
"The RSF initiative was conceived to help foster exceptional race driving talent among those who might not have the resources to make the very difficult journey to professional status," said RSF founder, Graham Sharp. "The RSF is very pleased to know that thanks to the consistent racing skills James has demonstrated and with the undoubted wise counsel of All Road Management, he is now on the threshold of every racer's dream: a Formula 1 Grand Prix drive."
The terms and conditions of Calado's new arrangement with Sahara Force India will not conflict with his remaining 2013 GP2 campaign.