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Renault F1 team to give test in 2012 car to GP3 racer Jack Aitken

Renault Formula 1 academy member and GP3 racer Jack Aitken will test one of the French team's 2012 F1 cars in a test at Jerez this week.

Aitken, who is currently second in the GP3 standings with two rounds of the season remaining, will drive the E20 Lotus-built car that Kimi Raikkonen used to win the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Wednesday.

The test will be Aitken's first experience of F1 machinery, driving the car that Robert Kubica used as part of his single-seater comeback evaluation process earlier this year.

"I'm hugely grateful to Renault Sport and the Academy for giving me this opportunity, my first ever run in a Formula 1 car," said Aitken.

"I know Jerez from racing there in Formula Renault so I'm looking forward to getting comfortable in the E20 and really having some fun."

Aitken, who joined the Renault Academy at the start of the 2016 season, is 43 points behind his ART Grand Prix team-mate, and Mercedes F1 junior, George Russell, in the GP3 standings.

The 21-year-old has taken one win so far this season alongside two pole positions and four further podium places.

After finishing second to Russell in the single GP3 race to be run at Monza due to the torrential rain that delayed qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix, Aitken expressed his hope that the missing race - the shorter second event that was called off after race one was postponed - could be rescheduled for the upcoming round at Jerez.

GP3 and Formula 2 are staging a standalone event away from the F1 support bill at the Spanish circuit, which will take place on 6-8 October.

Zdroj: autosport.com