Official Vodafone McLaren Mercedes test driver Oliver Turvey will be back on track for next month’s Formula 1 in-season official test at Mugello. The outing will be Oliver’s second run in the MP4-27 after being the first driver to experience McLaren’s 2012 challenger back in February.
Oliver will be joined by fellow test driver Gary Paffett for the only in-season test. McLaren’s race driver pairing of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton will be sitting out the event in Italy.
Rising British talent Oliver has been a part of the McLaren Mercedes family for the last two seasons and his work this year continues to see him develop and test for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 programme. While Formula 1 race weekends see Oliver working at the McLaren Technology Centre conducting detailed simulator work, the Mugello test will be a welcome return to on-track driving for the British star.
“First of all, I would like to thank the team for selecting me to drive for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes in the official test at Mugello. I’m really excited and looking forward to getting back in the MP4-27. The test is a great opportunity to perform some on-track development work that will hopefully benefit the team for the remainder of the 2012 season.” Oliver continued, “I’m really looking forward to being on-track once again and performing at my best for the team.”
As part of a new Formula 1 schedule this season, there have been three pre-season tests in Spain and in-season testing – which has been absent since the 2009 season – makes a return with the three-day event in Italy. The test provides Formula 1 teams with an opportunity to develop their cars further ahead of the start of the European season. McLaren welcomed its “fantastic” test drivers back behind the wheel via Twitter:
“Our Mugello Test line-up: ever-popular testers Gary Paffett and Oliver Turvey will share the driving… That means Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton won’t be at Mugello – but our testers are fantastic and will love their first taste of MP4-27!”