Alexander Rossi is feeling fully prepared for his second FP1 outing of the 2013 season, replacing Giedo van der Garde at Caterham.
The American is looking forward to driving this year's car on home turf and in front of family, friends and supporters. He drove the Caterham CT03 in first practice for the Canadian Grand Prix earlier in the year and also completed 69 laps at the Silverstone Young Driver Test in July.
As the Leafield based outfit's reserve driver, he had planned to complete more free practice runs but a combination of the team drafting in Heikki Kovalainen to help develop the car and a drive with Caterham's GP2 team put back his first run.
The 22-year-old has driven on the Circuit of the Americas before, but not in modern F1 machinery. He is looking forward to the weekend and feels ready to do a good job and help the team.
"This is an important time in my career and the sport for America and another major step forward for me, to drive FP1 in my home country, in front of my own friends, family, supporters and fans," he said. "It means a lot to me that the team is giving me this opportunity, while trusting me with the responsibility and I want thank everyone who’s helped make this possible.
"I’ve already driven COTA several times, including in a classic Grand Prix car, so I know the layout well, but driving a current-season F1 car is a bit different altogether and on Grand Prix weekend it’s a very important responsibility. With the amount of F1 testing I’ve already done over the last few years, I’m fully prepared to do the best job for the team in FP1."
He added: "As it’s an official practice session it’s important that I help the team as much as possible to set the car up right for the rest of the weekend, while, for me, this is another chance to use the session to continue to learn, develop and progress towards the next step up to being the next full-time F1 race driver."
Race driver Giedo van der Garde is hoping for a little bit of luck in the final two races of the season, in order to snatch 10th in the constructors' standings from rivals Marussia: "The focus in Austin will be the same as it has been all year. Keep ahead of the team we’re fighting with for tenth and keep our fingers crossed for a bit of luck.
"I think we’re due it – if luck was the reward for hard work and effort I’m sure the whole team would have had a load by now, but even without that, we just have to do the best job we can and grab anything that comes our way."
Meanwhile team-mate Charles Pic is looking forward to his second race weekend in Austin, labelling it a "very special" race. "COTA is a great track to drive an F1 car around – it has huge elevation changes, some really technical sections and it’s and one of those very special Grand Prix where there’s an amazing atmosphere all weekend, on and off track," he admitted.
"I think that last year, when we went for the first time, we all expected the organisers to put on a great event, it is America after all, but I don’t think anyone realised the whole city of Austin would embrace F1 like they did. I think this year it’ll be even bigger and better – I know all the boys in the garage are looking forward to it as one of the great races of the year, and when you find a race like that, it’s very special."
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| (c) Octane Photographic |
As the Leafield based outfit's reserve driver, he had planned to complete more free practice runs but a combination of the team drafting in Heikki Kovalainen to help develop the car and a drive with Caterham's GP2 team put back his first run.
The 22-year-old has driven on the Circuit of the Americas before, but not in modern F1 machinery. He is looking forward to the weekend and feels ready to do a good job and help the team.
"This is an important time in my career and the sport for America and another major step forward for me, to drive FP1 in my home country, in front of my own friends, family, supporters and fans," he said. "It means a lot to me that the team is giving me this opportunity, while trusting me with the responsibility and I want thank everyone who’s helped make this possible.
"I’ve already driven COTA several times, including in a classic Grand Prix car, so I know the layout well, but driving a current-season F1 car is a bit different altogether and on Grand Prix weekend it’s a very important responsibility. With the amount of F1 testing I’ve already done over the last few years, I’m fully prepared to do the best job for the team in FP1."
He added: "As it’s an official practice session it’s important that I help the team as much as possible to set the car up right for the rest of the weekend, while, for me, this is another chance to use the session to continue to learn, develop and progress towards the next step up to being the next full-time F1 race driver."
Race driver Giedo van der Garde is hoping for a little bit of luck in the final two races of the season, in order to snatch 10th in the constructors' standings from rivals Marussia: "The focus in Austin will be the same as it has been all year. Keep ahead of the team we’re fighting with for tenth and keep our fingers crossed for a bit of luck.
"I think we’re due it – if luck was the reward for hard work and effort I’m sure the whole team would have had a load by now, but even without that, we just have to do the best job we can and grab anything that comes our way."
Meanwhile team-mate Charles Pic is looking forward to his second race weekend in Austin, labelling it a "very special" race. "COTA is a great track to drive an F1 car around – it has huge elevation changes, some really technical sections and it’s and one of those very special Grand Prix where there’s an amazing atmosphere all weekend, on and off track," he admitted.
"I think that last year, when we went for the first time, we all expected the organisers to put on a great event, it is America after all, but I don’t think anyone realised the whole city of Austin would embrace F1 like they did. I think this year it’ll be even bigger and better – I know all the boys in the garage are looking forward to it as one of the great races of the year, and when you find a race like that, it’s very special."
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