Exclusive by Tom Howard
Mike Conway could find himself in the frame for a surprise Formula One seat at world champions Mercedes Grand Prix, formerly Brawn GP, if he impresses in a test next week.
The 24-year-old driver from Sevenoaks received a shock call up this week and will now take part in a three-day test with Ross Brawn’s squad at Spain’s Jerez circuit. An impressive display could put him in contention for the vacant race seat left by world champion Jenson Button.
Since winning the world title, the Brawn GP team have been bought by Mercedes and both Button and Rubens Barrichello have left. The team confirmed highly rated German Nico Rosberg will drive for them in 2010, but are yet to confirm a second driver, leaving a potential opening for Conway.
He said: “I’ve been working on my Indycar plans to stay in the series for next season, but this has certainly thrown a spanner in the works. I am still going to carry on with my plans, but we will have to see how well the test goes and decide from there. It would be amazing to get the second seat, but there is a long way to go.”
Having raced in the Indycar Series in the USA, Conway, who spent two years as part of Mercedes GP’s young driver programme when the team was owned by Honda, thought his Formula One chances were over.
He said: “I was shocked to hear from the team and for them to give me a test in a world championship-winning car. It is every driver’s dream to drive a race-winning Formula One car. It is great the team have still kept me in mind after the work I did for them in the past.”
Conway’s three-day test begins on Tuesday where he is to be joined by Japanese Formula 3 champion Marcus Ericsson.
POSTED: 29/11/2009 09:00:00
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