Lucas di Grassi: Virgin Racing’s New Driver

Lucas & Glock with Richard Branson

Lucas di Grassi, the Brazilian boy who has been testing at Renault F1 for the last two seasons will move to Branson’s Virgin Racing (Formerly Manor Racing) Formula 1 Team. He will be joining Timo Glock, who was earlier confirmed as Virgin’s first driver for 2010.

Lucas, a GP2 driver for the last couple of years also tested for Honda/Brawn F1 Team in 2008. In 2009, Lucas di Grassi raced for Racing Engineering in GP2 and finished third in drivers’ championship. With Manor Motorsport, Lucas won the Macau Formula Three back in 2005.

The announcement of Lucas di Grassi comes after Lotus, again a new team in Formula One, announced that they will back the experience of Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen. Both Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi will be supported by test and reserve drivers Alvaro Parente and Luiz Razia.