Renault reserve driver and 2011 GP2 Series champion Romain Grosjean will drive for Renault in the first Friday practice sessions at the Abu Dhabi and Brazilian Grands Prix, as the team evaluates their options for 2012.
Grosjean drove for the Renault works team in the second half of the 2009 season, replacing Nelson Piquet Jr. But he endured a disappointing time on the grid, failing to score a point.Since then, the Frenchman has rekindled his career in the junior formulae, culminating in a dominant title success in GP2 this season.
And with Renault's 2012 driver situation still up in the air with Robert Kubica still recovering from injury, the team will run Grosjean in the final two FP1 sessions in 2011.
Grosjean will take over from Bruno Senna for FP1 in Abu Dhabi in two weeks time, and then stand in for Vitaly Petrov at the season finale in Brazil.
Renault team boss Eric Boullier said that the team felt that it was the "appropriate time" to gie Grosjean a run out, saying that the Frenchman had improved since his 2009 campaign.
"Romain has been part of the LRGP family since February and we feel this is an appropriate time to give him a chance to drive for us during two Free Practice sessions," Boullier said on Saturday.
"Putting his skills to the test in two consecutive Friday sessions will offer him precious experience of driving the R31 during a race weekend and will make him a better driver."
He added: "I'm sure that his feedback will be useful for the team, especially as he raced in F1 only two years ago. Since then, he has improved in every area and I'm sure he'll do a good job for us.
Grosjean himself said that he was "excited" to be getting back behind the wheel of an F1 car at a GP weekend, adding that the chance to drive was a "massive boost" for his career.
"I am delighted to be given this opportunity and I feel very excited about driving the R31 for the first time during a Grand Prix weekend," he gushed.
"It will be a big responsibility for me and my priority will be to do the best job I can for the team."
He added: "I did some F1 testing for Pirelli during the winter at the beginning of this year, so the tyres shouldn't be too alien to me.
"I believe all the right elements are in place to make this a great experience, and I don't feel too much pressure going into this.
"My aim, of course, will be to help Lotus Renault GP prepare for the race weekends, to offer the best feedback I can and to be reliable and consistent.
"Getting an opportunity like this is always a massive boost in a driver's career and I'll make sure I make the most of the chance I've been given."
Grosjean is believed to be in the frame for a race seat for 2012, should Kubica fail to recover from injury in time.
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