Glock welcomes new Virgin team-mate

VIRGIN’S top driver Timo Glock says he’s ready to take the team to the next step up in Formula One alongside new signing Jerome D’Ambrosio.

Twenty-five-year-old Belgian D’Ambrosio came into the Dinnington team to replace Lucas Di Grassi last week and hopes are already high that he can hit the track at pace next season.

Said Glock: “My congratulations go to Jerome on joining the team and I look forward to working with him next year.

“After a tough but rewarding debut season for our team we now have a lot of hard work to do to take Marussia Virgin Racing to the level we should be performing at in 2011. I cannot wait to get started in the new car when testing begins in February.”

D’Ambrosio has spent the last four seasons competing in the GP2 Series, prior to which he raced in the GP2 Asia series, International Formula Master, the F3000 Euroseries and Formula Renault. Alongside his 2010 GP2 commitments he was reserve and test driver for the Renault F1 team.

Jerome’s first official duties will commence early next year with the launch of the VR-02 car for the 2011 season. He will then commence pre-season testing alongside Glock in Valencia in February.