Spanish driver Andy Soucek has terminated his contract as Virgin Racing's third and reserve driver, citing a lack of test driving opportunities this season.Due to current F1 rules, testing during the season is too limited and as a consequence reserve drivers in every F1 team get no mileage at all unless they might substitute the official drivers. Although HRT has used Yamamoto twice so far in races the reigning F2 champion hasn't driven at all for his team so far this season although his contract does stipulate some test-driving duties. And the breach of the original terms of his contract by Virgin leaves Soucek with no other choice but to leave the team with immediate effect.
Although Soucek has made sponsor payments to Virgin at around €1 million, he has "decided not to pay any more due to the lack of opportunity to drive the VR01". He is now understood to be in talks with another team about becoming its third driver and hopes to reach a deal before the Belgian Grand Prix. Another option for him would be to join a top GP2 team.
Soucek commented:
"I asked them to give me the opportunity to continue to race in other categories and they accepted," said Soucek. "The experience [with Virgin] has helped me to come to know F1. I wish them all the best, and they wish the same for me. It [the split] was friendly and nothing to do with payments or non-payments."
