Lotus Renault GP announced that the 28-year-old Malaysian Fairuz Fauzy has secured a reserve driver role which is part of a wider plan for a Lotus Renault GP driver academy.The Malaysian used to be Team Lotus reserve driver, but after the latest Lotus name dispute he followed his sponsor Malaysian car company Proton who owns Group Lotus as well and now sponsors Renault.
Renault team boss Eric Boullier told the Bernama news agency.
"We will focus on Fairuz's progress and evaluate his capabilities to be a race driver for us,"
Fauzy added: "I want to thank Lotus Renault GP for giving me this opportunity. It's a real honour to be part of a top team that has achieved so much in the sport and it's something any driver dreams about.
It's feels especially exciting because of the new partnership with Lotus and I'm very proud to be here at the start of a new era for the team. It's also a great opportunity for me to improve as a driver and learn as much as I can about Formula One so that hopefully one day I can be on the grid myself."
Fauzy will also race in 2011 with the GP2 team Super Nova, whose cars will feature significant Proton branding. However, he will be racing against the ART team that will be sponsored by Group Lotus.
