Music: {allcanada} CANADA'S WICKENS ON RESERVE DRIVER ROSTER FOR CANADIAN GP

Friday, June 3, 2011

{allcanada} CANADA'S WICKENS ON RESERVE DRIVER ROSTER FOR CANADIAN GP

Canada's Robert Wickens has been appointed to the Reserve Driver Roster for Marussia Virgin Racing, competing in the 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship.

The 22-year-old from Toronto, currently competing in the 2011 Formula Renault 3.5 Series in Europe, will be attending next weekend's Canadian Grand Prix with the team, supporting race drivers Timo Glock and Jerome D'Ambrosio.

"I'm grateful to Marussia Virgin Racing for the opportunity to join them as one of their official reserve drivers," said Wickens. "It's a fantastic privilege to be able to play any role within a Formula One team but for me, it's another step on the road to hopefully realizing my goal of becoming a Formula One race driver."

Wickens becomes the first Canadian race car driver to be officially associated with a competing Formula One team since former World Champion Jacques Villeneuve left Formula One in 2006.

"It'll be fun to be back and have an official role in the paddock rather than simply stopping by to say hi to a few people," said Wickens. "The Canadian race fans are truly amazing so you can't but help get a buzz off the atmosphere that they create there. I know I'll be kept pretty busy in Montreal with the team so it should be a fun weekend. I've always enjoyed racing at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and I'd love the chance to race it in a Formula One car sometime in the near future and give the Canadian fans another 'home' racer to support."