Raikkonen to join Silverstone test
Lotus have confirmed Kimi Raikkonen will take part in next week's young driver test at Silverstone.
The three-day programme was initially intended for teams to give their reserves an outing, or to look at potential up-and-coming drivers. But the test now has an added dimension with race drivers allowed to take part, but only to run the rule over Pirelli's new specification of tyre.
From the Hungarian Grand Prix onwards, the Italian manufacturer is to introduce a range of tyres that comprises 2012 construction with this season's compounds. It follows the series of high-speed blowouts that occurred during the British GP, creating a serious safety issue.
With race drivers given the green light to participate, Raikkonen will drive next Friday, with development driver Nicolas Prost in the car on Wednesday and reserve Davide Valsecchi on Thursday.
Team principal Eric Boullier said: "It's great timing for us to have this season's young driver test scheduled in the middle of the year as it allows us to evaluate more of the new parts we have for the car as the championship battle intensifies.
"Remarkably, the UK has been having some notably good weather recently so we're looking forward to getting some good running across the three days.
"By running Nicolas and Davide we are giving them both invaluable experience and also gaining great feedback, as we've previously seen what they can do in the car and appreciate the valuable information they give us. It's also a fabulous second opportunity for all Formula One fans to come and see the teams in action at Silverstone."
Other teams are due to announce their line-ups over the coming days, with the exception of Mercedes who are banned after using a current car in a private tyre test with Pirelli in Barcelona in mid-May.
In confirming their line-up, Sauber will have test and reserve driver Robin Frijns behind the wheel on Wednesday and Thursday morning. For Thursday afternoon Nico Hulkenberg will drive, followed by Kimiya Sato on Friday, the Japanese being given his first taste of an F1 car.
The 24-year-old has previously competed in Formula BMW, Japanese and German Formula Three, the Formula Three Euro Series, and currently leads Auto GP.
