The Caterham Formula One team will give their new test driver Giedo van der Garde a run out on Thursday at this week's Jerez pre-season test, in order to help to get the Dutchman up to speed in their new CT01 machine.
The team signed van der Garde as their new reserve and test driver over the weekend, with Caterham confirming that the Dutchman would appear in an unspecified pre-season test.
And on Monday, the team confirmed that he would be put in the CT01 on Thursday in Jerez, taking over one of the days allocated for race driver Jarno Trulli.
Heikki Kovalainen will drive the new car on the first two days, with van der Garde getting his day before Trulli completes the test on Friday.
And in quotes published on the team's Facebook page, van der Garde said that he was "delighted" to be handed an early testing chance.
"[I'm] positively surprised and extremely delighted with this opportunity," the former GP2 driver grinned, "I am very fit and ready to gain the best from both the car and myself."
He added: "It is a great pleasure to start working with the team on Thursday in Jerez.
"I will ensure that I can play my part in helping the team to meet its test objectives, working closely with the engineers before and after the day, and the whole team in the garage, will also be very important.
"It is very exciting that I can drive the new CT01 car and take part in the test with the 2012 F1 drivers at the first test session of the new season.
"I will do everything to convince the team of my driving capacities and future potential."
Caterham CEO Riad Asmat added that he was looking forward to seeing how the team's new signing went in the test.
"Now that we have officially signed Giedo as our Reserve Driver for 2012, we decided to give him his first outing with us in the new CT01 in Jerez," he rambled.
"A number of people in the team have worked with Giedo before and know that he is a very technically skillful driver.
"We look forward to seeing him behind the wheel of our new car and are excited about giving him his first run with us so early in the season."
Van der Garde is also set to get a run out in a series of Friday practice sessions throughout the 2012 season.
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