DIGRASSI TO PARTNER GLOCK AT VIRGIN RACING, AND ALVARO PARENTE AS TEST DRIVER

The signing of Di Grassi, Renault’s third driver for the past two seasons, was confirmed in London on Tuesday as Virgin officially unveiled their team identity, by their own admission ‘the worst kept secret in F1’.

Glock was confirmed several weeks ago by British squad Manor GP, who had their 2010 entry accepted by the FIA prior to finalising their deal with Virgin. Di Grassi, 25, has spent the past four seasons competing in GP2, finishing runner-up in 2007, and tested for Renault at the recent young driver session at Jerez.

Portugal’s Alvaro Parente will serve as test driver. Parente, 25, is another GP2 veteran, with two wins in the last two seasons, and a former British F3 champion. He tested for the Renault Formula One team after winning the 2007 Formula Renault 3.5 series. Razia, 20, also raced in GP2 in 2009, and is another test driver.

TOYOTA MOTORSPORTS FESTIVAL 2009

Toyota MotorSports Festival 2009

Sunday, November 22  Fuji  Speedway

For more information go to www.tmsf.jp

Raikkonen's management visit McLaren

Kimi Raikkonen’s management team visited McLaren’s Technology Centre on Wednesday as guests of Martin Whitmarsh, itv.com/f1 has learned.
Steve and David Robertson were seen in conversation with the McLaren team principal while walking around parts of the squad’s Woking base.

SENNA HAPPY WITH PROGRESS AT CAMPOS META

While there is still plenty of manoeuvring to play out in the driver market for 2010, one of the few new names to have a confirmed cockpit for next year is Bruno Senna, who will make his Formula One debut with new team Campos Meta.

Work on Senna’s charge for 2010 is already well underway and on Monday the 26 year-old visited Dallara’s factory in Italy where his car is being built.

“The car seems to be in a well developed state,” he commented. “I've sat in the monocoque, made a seat and tested the power steering system. I was happy to see the team really investing in the project. The provisional delivery date for the first car is the end of January.”

After being presented to the media in the Spanish region of Murcia on Tuesday, Senna is expected to undergo a series of mandatory FIA medical tests on Wednesday.

RICCIARDO TO TEST FOR RED BULL IN DECEMBER

British Formula Three champion Daniel Ricciardo will make his Formula One test debut with Red Bull next month

"This is something I’ve dreamed about since I can remember, so I’m really looking forward to it," the Australian told Red Bull’s official website. “No way did I think I’d be getting this at the end of the year. I'm feeling very, very excited to be here and to see the seat’s getting done."

“The F1 car is just a more wild piece of machinery,” he added. “The brakes are probably the biggest thing - the stopping power they have is quite huge. Mentally you have to be more switched on as well as, obviously, everything’s coming at you so much faster.”

SENNA TO MAKE F1 DEBUT WITH CAMPOS META IN 2010

"For Campos Meta it is an extraordinary honour to return the name of Senna to Formula One," Campos Meta CEO Enrique Rodriguez de Castro said in a statement on Saturday.

"I'd like to thank God, my family, friends and all of my supporters!” was Senna’s comment on his official Twitter page after the deal with the Spanish team was confirmed.

BARRICHELLO: WILLIAMS A GOOD OPTION

"Williams has always been a team that anyone would have a look at," said Barrichello in Abu Dhabi. "That is no different right now.

"Everyone would look at a position at Williams, because it is one of the best teams out there – and they are on the way up. So I am definitely looking at that."
From Racer