F1: Yamamoto gets reserve role at Marussia Virgin Racing

Taking a cue from Team Lotus, the Marussia Virgin Racing team is looking to put a few more drivers on their roster for the 2011 season. Until recently though, Virgin was left with no test driver – Timo Glock and Jerome d’Ambrosio taking up race responsibilities for the team. But with just a few more days to go for the season opener in Australia, Virgin has taken on Sakon Yamamoto as their reserve driver – at least for the first three rounds of the new season anyway. The former HRT test driver who ended up replacing both Karun Chandhok and Bruno Senna in a number of races towards the latter half of last season may not get any real track-time with Virgin though, but his contract requires that he be present at all three opening events to assist Glock and d’Ambrosio through the weekend.

“We are delighted to welcome Sakon Yamamoto to Marussia Virgin Racing as our Reserve Driver for the first three race weekends,” said Virgin team principal John Booth. “Sakon will spend the weekends observing the race drivers and attending all engineering meetings to ensure he is up to speed should there be an occasion where a last minute substitution is required. In keeping with our commitment to nurturing young talent, our Reserve Driver strategy is to help a number of drivers gain hard to come by track time and so we will be operating a roster featuring a number of racers that we are interested in evaluating during the forthcoming season.”

Yamamoto has raced in 21 Grands Prix since his Formula 1 debut for Jordan Racing back in 2005. “I am pleased to work with Marussia Virgin Racing in Australia,” said Yamamoto. “I really appreciate them giving me a chance to be here. The team has made a big step forward this year and I believe that I can contribute to their car development through my experience. As everyone is aware it is a very difficult time in Japan right now and any good news is much welcomed. I hope the people back home will feel positive about my latest F1 role as I would like to do everything possible to help them."

The Japanese driver enjoyed test and race roles with the ill-fated Super Aguri team in 2006 and 2007 and then as a development driver for Renault in 2008. With Team Lotus having signed on four test and reserve drivers for the 2011 season, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if Yamamoto finds some company in the reserve ranks at Marussia Virgin – after all, fledgling teams need the money that the drivers’ sponsors bring in, don’t they?