Gonzalez to test for Caterham

Caterham has confirmed that GP2 racer Rodolfo Gonzalez will take part in next week's F1 test session at Mugello. The Venezuelan, who is competing for Caterham's own team in the feeder series, will be in action on the opening day of the test before race drivers Vitaly Petrov and Heikki Kovalainen take over for a day of running each. It will be the third time Gonzalez has tested with the team with two previous outings when the team was running under the Lotus banner. “I am very excited about getting back into an F1 car at the Mugello test, and want to thank Caterham F1 Team for this opportunity,” Gonzalez said. “It will be my third time in an F1 car with this team and it will be another good chance for me to further my experience at the top level of global motorsport. “I took part in the young driver tests in 2010 and 2011 with the team, so to be able to help their development programme mid-season is another good step in my career and something that I can take lessons from back into my GP2 season with Caterham Racing.” Caterham's chief executive officer Riad Asmat said he was pleased to give Gonzalez more mileage in the F1 car. “Rodolfo is developing well and we are very pleased we are playing an active role in his growth as a driver,” he said. “He did a good job for us when he took part in the young driver tests, and we expect him to work to the plans he is given, deliver what we ask him to on track, and provide the engineers with the sort of feedback someone with his experience should. “His day with the F1 team in Mugello will also help his ongoing development in GP2 and that will be good news for Caterham Racing, so for everyone involved this is good news.”