Juncadella to make F1® practice debut at Silverstone

Force India reserve driver Daniel Juncadella will make his Formula One practice debut at the 2014 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix, the team confirmed on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old Spaniard, who is the reigning FIA European Formula 3 champion and winner of both the Macau Grand Prix and the Masters at Zandvoort, will take the wheel of Nico Hulkenberg's VJM07 for Friday morning’s FP1 session before handing the car back to the German for FP2.

"I am delighted and ready and I'd like to thank Sahara Force India for this opportunity,” said Juncadella, who drove for Force India in both pre-season testing and at last month’s Barcelona test, and also conducts regular simulator duties for the Silverstone-based squad.

“This will be the first time I take part in an official Grand Prix weekend session, so it will be a very special day for me - I've been waiting for this moment for a very long time and it goes to show that hard work and determination can get you there!

"Since the start of the year back in Jerez, where I got my first chance to drive the car, I've been working very hard together with the team and I've definitely learned a lot. My second outing at the test in Barcelona and all the hours we've spent together on the simulator have given me plenty of confidence. They were also the perfect way to get to know the team better, something which I think is always essential in order to do well.

"This is also the team’s local race, which makes a day I will never forget even more special."

Force India are one of just four teams to have scored points in every race so far this season and enter the Silverstone weekend in fourth place in the constructors’ standings with 87 points.