Robert Wickens
Canadian Robert Wickens' Formula One racing dream has moved one tantalizing step away from becoming reality.
After weeks of speculation of links to the Marussia Virgin Racing team, the F1 outfit made it official Friday, announcing Wickens as the team's reserve driver for the rest of 2011, beginning with this weekend's race at home in Montreal.
"It's a fantastic privilege to be able to play any role within an F1 team but for me, it's another step on the road to hopefully realizing my goal of becoming an F1 race driver," Wickens said.
"I'm grateful to Marussia Virgin Racing for the opportunity to join them as one of their official reserve drivers."
Wickens has the backing of Virgin's title sponsor Marussia Motors, which is also involved his 2011 season in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series. Wickens in second overall in the standings in Formula Renault after a second-place finish last weekend on the streets of Monaco. He is one point out of top spot in the title standings.
As a reserve driver, Wickens essentially becomes a stand-in for the Virgin team who is available in case there is the need for a replacement in the cockpit. He will attend all F1 races that don't conflict with his Formula Renault calendar. The reserve role also makes Wickens is eligible to drive in Friday practice on grand prix weekends.
It is thought that Wickens will get a shot at a Friday session later in the season after the team has the car sorted a bit better. But there exists the slim possibility that the team will seize the marketing opportunity and put the Guelph, Ont., driver on track a week from today at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve when the F1 circus arrives in Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix.
"I've always enjoyed racing at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and it goes without saying I'd love the chance to race it in a F1 car sometime in the near future and give Canadian fans another 'home' racer to support," he said.
The deal is a triumph of talent after Wickens clawed his way to the top despite losing his main backer Red Bull three years ago. When the energy drink company dropped him at the end of 2008, the 22-year-old thought his F1 dreams might be over. But he scraped together enough support to find a ride in the newly minted Formula Two Series in 2009 where he finished as runner-up. That led to a deal with Status Grand Prix and a seat in GP3. Wickens ended the 2010 GP3 campaign second overall in points after a slow start to the season.
The reason Wickens may not see much seat time until later in the season is due to the late arrival of this year's Virgin car, which means the team's race drivers - Timo Glock and Jerome d'Ambrosio - need as much time behind the wheel as possible just to make the cut.
That's because the sport's governing Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) re-instituted a rule in 2011 that requires all cars to set a time in first qualifying that is within 107 per cent of the quickest in the session or they cannot start the race. Four races into 2011, the team hasn't exactly burned up the track, scoring no points this season with a best finish of 14th for d'Ambrosio in the season opener in Australia. The team joined the grid in 2010 and has yet to score an F1 point.
While getting into the car remains his goal, the immediate task for the young Canadian is learning about an F1 team and how it works.
"Ultimately for me, the opportunity to attend grand prix events as part of the team, and be around the team's drivers, will be a fantastic education," Wickens said.
"You want to soak in as much information as you can, speaking with the likes of the engineers and the drivers. It goes without saying I'm hungry for the opportunity to physically drive a Formula One car but until that time comes, I'll use this experience to become a valuable member of Marussia Virgin Racing."
Canada's last grand prix driver was Jacques Villeneuve, who became this country's only F1 world champion when he won the title in 1997. Villeneuve raced with Williams, British American Racing, Renault and Sauber between 1996 and 2006. His F1 career ended unceremoniously when he was dumped mid-season by the Sauber squad. In his time in F1, Villeneuve took 11 wins, 13 poles and 23 podium finishes in 163 races.
His father Gilles is considered by most to be the greatest racing talent Canada has ever produced. He scored six wins, two poles and 13 podiums in 67 starts, including taking his maiden F1 victory on the Montreal track that now bears his name. The elder Villeneuve died in a qualifying crash for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix.
Many see the reserve role as a confirmation that Marussia wants Wickens in race seat with the team in 2012. But many things have to happen for that to become reality, starting with a solid performance in the Renault championship this year. Winning outright would go a long way to securing the seat, although a top-3 finish might be good enough.
While the future is never certain, Wickens is happy being a part of an F1 team, which moves him one step closer to driving in the pinnacle of motorsport.
"It's all about momentum and you need it on your side, both on and off track," he said.
"I feel I've continued to take the right steps towards realizing my goal and moving into the F1 paddock is a great step, and it's down to me to make the most of it."
Jeff Pappone